We’ll review court verdict on 2027 election timetable before taking action – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will study the court ruling voiding the general election timetable.

On Wednesday, a federal high court in Abuja nullified the timelines of INEC for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.

According to the revised timetable issued by INEC, all political parties were expected to submit their membership registers by May 10, conduct primaries to select candidates, and apply for withdrawals and submit replacements for the 2027 general election before the end of May.

But the court ruled that the commission lacks the statutory powers to abridge timelines provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, was filed by the Youth Party (YP) on March 11 with INEC as the sole defendant.

The plaintiff, through its counsel, J.O. Olotu, sought several reliefs, including a declaration that INEC’s powers to receive notices of party primaries and candidates’ particulars, as well as its duty to monitor the exercises under sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, do not extend to fixing timelines for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a judgement delivered by Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, said INEC cannot “fix or prescribe the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections”.

The judge ruled that the powers granted to INEC under sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act do not extend to determining timelines for party primaries.

“A declaration is hereby made that upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the defendant to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections,” the judge ruled.

Umar also held that INEC cannot lawfully shorten the statutory period allowed for political parties to submit the particulars of candidates.

‘WE’LL STUDY JUDGEMENT TO DECIDE ON NEXT STEP’

Speaking with TheCable on Friday, Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s director of voter education and publicity, said the commission would critically study the court verdict before taking any decision.

“We have not received the judgement, and we cannot comment on it. Yes, the judgement is in the public domain, and we don’t know the reasons for the decision that was taken,” she said.

“So, there’s need to study the whole judgement and decide on the next step to take.” (TheCable)