A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck down the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers by May 10, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar ruled that INEC lacked the authority to reduce the timeline already provided under the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of candidates’ particulars and party membership documents.
The case was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged the electoral body’s guideline and urged the court to enforce the 120-day deadline stipulated in the Electoral Act.
According to the judge, Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act clearly states that political parties are only required to submit candidates’ details not later than 120 days before an election. The court held that INEC could not lawfully impose an earlier deadline outside the provisions of the law.
“A declaration is made that having regard to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days to an election, the defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 election timetable,” the court ruled.
The judgment effectively nullifies INEC’s May 10 deadline and gives political parties until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers.
The ruling is expected to influence political activities ahead of the 2027 elections, as it may provide more time for politicians seeking to switch parties after losing primary elections.
INEC had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are expected to hold on February 6, 2027.
Before the ruling, the commission had announced that all 22 registered political parties complied with the directive after extending the submission deadline from April 21 to May 10, 2026, following consultations with party representatives.
INEC maintained that the extension complied with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and aligned with the timetable for party primaries fixed between April 23 and May 30, 2026. The commission also said the submitted membership registers would undergo verification in accordance with the law.
