Breaking: Court Decision Hands Defectors Upper Hand Over INEC Dispute

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck down guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice M.G. Umar delivered the ruling on Thursday in a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP).

The court held that INEC does not have the legal authority to shorten timelines already provided for under the Electoral Act 2026.

Justice Umar ruled that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act allows political parties up to 120 days before an election to submit the personal particulars of their candidates.

He stated that INEC cannot lawfully impose a deadline earlier than what the law provides through its guidelines.

“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 before an election, the defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 elections,” the judge held.

Following the judgment, political parties are now permitted to submit updated membership registers to INEC up until September 2026.

The ruling effectively invalidates the commission’s earlier May 10 deadline.

It is also expected to create room for politicians who lost party primaries to switch parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.