The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday nullified the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for political parties to submit their membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party, Justice M.G. Umar held that INEC lacked the legal authority to impose a timeline shorter than what is stipulated in the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC had directed all registered political parties to submit comprehensive membership registers and databases by May 10 as a precondition for participation in the 2027 polls.
However, the court ruled that the commission’s directive contravened Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, which provides that political parties must submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election.
Justice Umar declared, “Having regard to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its guidelines for the 2027 elections.”
The court consequently set aside the May 10 deadline, directing that political parties have until September to submit updated membership registers in line with the law.
The judgment is expected to significantly alter the pre-election landscape, as it affords politicians who may lose party primaries additional time to defect to other parties and pursue their electoral ambitions.
The ruling also compels INEC to realign its electoral timetable with statutory provisions, reinforcing the supremacy of the Electoral Act over administrative guidelines.
According to INEC’s schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
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