Court Halts INEC Timetable for 2027 Elections, Sets Aside Deadlines for Primaries and Candidate Submissions

A Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside key provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections, in a ruling that could reshape the electoral process timeline.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, held that several deadlines imposed by INEC on political parties were inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The court ruled that INEC does not have the legal authority to shorten statutory timelines for political parties regarding the conduct of primaries, submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists, and campaign deadlines.

The decision followed a suit filed by the Youth Party challenging INEC’s powers to regulate internal party nomination timelines beyond what is prescribed by law.

In the judgment, Justice Umar agreed that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act provides political parties up to 120 days before an election to submit candidates’ particulars, stating that INEC cannot lawfully impose a shorter deadline.

The court also referenced Section 31 of the Act, which allows political parties to withdraw and substitute candidates up to 90 days before an election, holding that INEC cannot abridge this period through administrative guidelines.

Similarly, the court held that Section 32 does not permit INEC to publish a final list of candidates earlier than the minimum 60 day statutory requirement.

Justice Umar further ruled that INEC lacks authority under Section 98 of the Electoral Act to end campaigns two days before election day, describing such provisions in the timetable as unlawful.

The court subsequently ordered the nullification of all contested deadlines contained in INEC’s revised 2027 election timetable, including those relating to primaries, candidate submissions, withdrawals, replacements, publication of candidate lists, and campaign timelines.

The ruling effectively restores statutory timelines provided under the Electoral Act as the governing framework for party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC had earlier required political parties to submit membership registers, conduct primaries, and finalize candidate nominations within strict deadlines, a process that has already triggered internal disputes and protests within some parties.

With the court’s decision, political parties now have broader legal backing to operate within the timelines stipulated in the Electoral Act, rather than the shortened schedule previously issued by the electoral commission.