The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will review the court ruling nullifying key provisions of the timetable for the 2027 general elections before taking further action.
On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja voided critical elements of INEC's revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections. The court ruled that the electoral body lacks the authority to shorten timelines explicitly provided under the 2026 Electoral Act.
Justice M.G. Umar delivered the judgment on Wednesday, with a certified true copy made available on Thursday. The court held that INEC cannot lawfully impose deadlines or timelines that conflict with statutory provisions regarding party primaries, submission of candidates' particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of the final candidates' list, and campaign periods.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, was filed by the Youth Party (YP) against INEC. The plaintiff challenged several aspects of the commission's revised timetable for the 2027 elections, arguing that INEC exceeded its statutory powers by setting timelines that effectively reduced periods guaranteed under the Electoral Act.
Justice Umar agreed with the plaintiff and granted all declaratory reliefs sought. The court specifically declared that under Sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC's powers to receive notices of party primaries and monitor such exercises do not extend to fixing or prescribing the period within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the 2027 elections.
Reacting on Friday, INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, told TheCable that the commission would study the judgment before making any decisions. “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,” Eta-Messi said. “So, there is need to study the whole judgement and decide on the next step to take.”
