The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that any primary election conducted after its May 30 deadline remains invalid unless a higher court overturns an earlier judgment challenging parts of the commission’s timetable for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with journalists, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said political parties should continue to comply with the Electoral Act 2026 while the commission’s appeal is still before the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the legal challenge against INEC’s timetable does not automatically invalidate the existing provisions guiding party primaries.
“For now, any primary conducted outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will remain invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment,” Haruna said.
“In other words, political parties should continue to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act as it stands.”
The clarification comes amid growing uncertainty following a Federal High Court ruling that questioned parts of INEC’s timetable and guidelines for the 2027 elections.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, the court held that INEC could not lawfully shorten timelines already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership registers and candidates’ details.
The court ruled that the commission exceeded its powers by altering timelines established by law.
The case was filed by the Youth Party, which challenged aspects of INEC’s election schedule.
Following the judgment, INEC appealed the decision and sought a stay of execution, insisting that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
Before the court ruling, INEC had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the official period for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a separate development, another Federal High Court judge, Justice James Omotosho, affirmed INEC’s constitutional authority to issue and revise election timetables.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, Justice Omotosho ruled that while INEC has the power to set election schedules, it must exercise that authority within the limits of the Electoral Act.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has ordered fresh primaries in several constituencies in Kaduna State after its appeals committee uncovered irregularities in the party’s nomination process.
Chairman of the committee, Dr Muhammed Fagge, said the panel reviewed petitions and evidence submitted by aggrieved aspirants and found instances of procedural violations, omitted candidates and insufficient proof that voting actually took place in some areas.
As a result, the committee declared several primaries inconclusive and directed rerun elections in affected constituencies, including Ikara/Kubau and Kaduna South Federal Constituencies.
The panel also warned against the use of consensus arrangements that do not have the full consent of all aspirants involved.
Fagge said the decisions were necessary to protect the integrity and credibility of the party’s nomination process.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, INEC’s latest position suggests that political parties still face the risk of having any primary conducted after May 30 rejected unless the Court of Appeal rules otherwise.
