A Federal High Court has upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) power to determine timelines for political party primaries in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
Justice J.K. Omotosho delivered the ruling in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) challenging INEC’s authority over election scheduling.
The court declared that an election timetable constitutes “a chain of events or actions” that includes fixing timeframes for parties to organise their primary elections.
“This honourable court hereby declares that Election Timetable is a chain of events or actions which include submission of membership register of political parties to be used for the purpose of primaries and fix Timeframes within which political parties are to organize their primary Elections for the purpose of the stated 2027 Election,” Justice Omotosho stated.
The judge affirmed that INEC derives its powers from the Constitution and the Electoral Act to issue, review and alter election timetables as necessary.
However, the court maintained that INEC cannot shorten the mandatory 120-day window provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act for the submission of candidates’ details. It nullified certain specific deadlines set by the commission.
The judgment is expected to bring clarity to the ongoing disputes between INEC and political parties over the 2027 election calendar.
