The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified portions of the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, the court also set aside INEC’s May 10 deadline requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases as a condition for participation in the elections.

The court held that the timelines stipulated by the electoral body for political parties to conduct primaries, submit candidates’ particulars, and withdraw or substitute candidates were inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The ruling followed a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP), which challenged INEC’s authority to impose timelines that allegedly contradicted statutory provisions under the Electoral Act.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, the Youth Party argued that INEC’s powers to receive notices of party primaries, monitor the exercises, and collect candidates’ particulars do not extend to fixing the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the 2027 elections.

Delivering judgment, Justice Umar agreed with the plaintiff, holding that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly provides that political parties are required to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election.

According to the court, INEC “cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 election timetable.”

The court further ruled that, pursuant to Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are permitted to withdraw and substitute candidates up to 90 days before an election, and that INEC lacks the authority to impose an earlier deadline.

INEC had earlier directed political parties to submit their membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries and initially fixed April 21, 2026, as the deadline before extending it to May 10, 2026.

On May 15, the electoral commission confirmed that all 22 registered political parties had complied with the directive by submitting their membership registers in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

The judgment is expected to have significant implications for preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly regarding the conduct of party primaries and candidate nomination processes.