TDThe Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has nullified guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which directed political parties to submit their membership registers by May 10, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar ruled that the electoral body could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under the Electoral Act 2026.
The suit was reportedly filed by the Youth Party challenging INEC’s directive.
The court held that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly provides that political parties are required to submit particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election.
It, therefore, ruled that INEC lacked the legal authority to impose an earlier deadline outside the provisions of the law.
With the ruling, political parties now effectively have until September 2026 to submit their membership registers and other related documents for participation in the 2027 elections.
The decision is expected to bring relief to several political parties and stakeholders who had earlier complained that the May deadline was too restrictive and difficult to comply with, especially amid ongoing internal restructuring and membership verification processes.
The judgment may also significantly alter the political timetable ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties battling internal crises and litigations could now have additional time to reorganize and conclude pending disputes.
The development comes amid increasing debates over Nigeria’s new Electoral Act 2026 and concerns surrounding INEC’s regulations for the upcoming elections. Several political groups and civil society organisations had previously criticised aspects of the commission’s guidelines, describing some provisions as burdensome and potentially exclusionary.
INEC is yet to officially react to the court ruling as of press time.
