Court nullifies INEC deadline, gives political parties till September To submit membership registers

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has nullified guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as a requirement for participation in the 2027 general elections.

Delivering judgement on Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar ruled that INEC lacked the legal authority to shorten timelines already provided under the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged INEC’s directive and asked the court to compel the commission to comply strictly with the statutory provisions of the Electoral Act.

Justice Umar held that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly provides that political parties are to submit particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, stressing that INEC could not lawfully impose an earlier deadline outside what the law stipulates.

“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.

The judgement effectively voids INEC’s May 10 deadline and grants political parties until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers and related documents.

The ruling is expected to significantly alter political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, as politicians who lost party primaries may now have another opportunity to defect to alternative political platforms before the final submission deadline.

INEC had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are billed for February 6, 2027.

The judgement comes weeks after INEC announced that all 22 registered political parties had complied with the now-invalidated directive by submitting their membership registers before the May 10 deadline.

The electoral commission had initially fixed April 21, 2026, for the submission before extending it to May 10 following complaints raised by political parties during consultations held on March 24.

INEC maintained at the time that the directive aligned with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable for party primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The commission also stated that the submitted membership registers would undergo verification in accordance with electoral laws.

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