A Federal High Court has nullified a guideline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ruled that political parties have until September 2026 to submit their membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ruling, delivered in Abuja, followed a legal challenge against INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit updated membership registers earlier than the timeframe stipulated by law.
Justice M.G. Umar delivered the judgement on Thursday in a suit filed by the Youth Party, compelling INEC to follow the 120 days pre-election deadline prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party registers.
“A Declaration is made that having regards 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 to an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its 2027 elections,” stated the judgement.
All registered parties, according to Mr Umar, have until September to submit an updated list of all party members, nullifying the initial May 10 deadline.
The judgement gives politicians, who have lost primary elections in their respective parties, the leeway to defect to another political party to continue their ambitions.
The presidential and national assembly elections have been scheduled for January 16, 2027 while governorship and state Houses of assembly polls are set to hold on February 6, 2027.
