By: LAWSON HAYFORD
In a landmark judgment capable of reshaping the political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the deadline earlier issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for political parties to submit their membership registers and databases.
The ruling effectively extends the political window for defections, realignments, candidate substitutions and other strategic party activities until September 2026, a development already sending shockwaves across the nation’s political landscape.
INEC had earlier fixed May 10, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers and databases, while also attempting to restrict further cross carpeting by politicians ahead of the elections.
But delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party, Justice M. G. Umar held that the electoral commission lacked the powers to abridge timelines already guaranteed under the Electoral Act 2026.
In his five-page judgment, the judge ruled that political parties legally have up to 120 days before elections to submit all relevant documents concerning their candidates and party membership records.
With the presidential election scheduled for January 27, 2027, the court held that parties therefore have until September 2026 to comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act.
Justice Umar declared that INEC could not lawfully impose a shorter deadline outside the statutory provisions of the law.
Citing Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the court stated that political parties are only required to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before the election date.
According to the court, INEC’s guidelines fixing May 10 as deadline for the submission of membership registers and party databases amounted to an unlawful abridgment of the time frame already granted by law.
The court also made far-reaching pronouncements regarding party primaries and internal party affairs.
Justice Umar ruled that INEC possesses the authority only to monitor party primaries and cannot dictate when political parties must conduct their primaries.
“INEC can only monitor 2027 primaries but cannot fix timetable for when a political party should conduct its primaries for the elections,” the court held.
The court further ruled that the electoral body cannot impose shorter timelines regarding withdrawal or replacement of candidates.
It equally restrained INEC from publishing any final list of candidates or commencing official campaign processes earlier than 60 days before the elections.
Political observers believe the judgment may significantly alter the dynamics currently unfolding within major political parties across the country.
Several controversial decisions already taken by political parties, particularly regarding disqualifications, consensus arrangements and hurried defections, may now face renewed pressure as politicians reassess their options ahead of September.
The ruling is also expected to trigger another wave of political migration across parties, especially among aggrieved aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of ongoing primaries in the APC, PDP and other emerging political platforms.
Already, the political atmosphere in Rivers, Delta, Kano, Bayelsa and several other states remains volatile following complaints over controversial screening exercises and alleged imposition of candidates.
With the court effectively reopening the political timetable, opposition parties and smaller political movements are likely to intensify efforts to attract frustrated politicians and dissatisfied blocs from the major parties.
For many analysts, Thursday’s judgment may eventually prove to be one of the most politically consequential judicial interventions ahead of the 2027 elections.(The Southern Examiner)
