The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a judgement delivered on Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided in the Electoral Act 2026 for political parties to submit relevant documents relating to candidates and party membership.
The suit was filed by the Youth Party, which challenged INEC’s timetable and argued that the electoral body lacked the power to impose an earlier deadline outside what is stipulated in the law.
According to the court, Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly states that political parties are required to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election.
Justice Umar declared that INEC’s guidelines for the 2027 elections, which fixed May 10 as the deadline for submission of party registers and databases, unlawfully abridged the statutory timeframe granted by the Electoral Act.
“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,” the court ruled.
With the judgement, all registered political parties now have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers to INEC.
The ruling is expected to significantly affect the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, as it opens a fresh window for politicians dissatisfied with the outcomes of party primaries to defect to other political platforms and pursue their ambitions.
INEC had earlier fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.