Court Upholds INEC's Authority on 2027 Primaries Timetable

On May 26, 2026, Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the legal authority to establish timelines for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The court's decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which challenged INEC's timetable for the elections. The court upheld INEC's power to prescribe timelines for party primaries and related electoral activities, confirming that these timelines must comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

However, the court also ruled that INEC could not shorten the statutory timeline of 120 days for the submission of candidates, leading to the voiding of the deadlines set for August 29 to September 16, 2026, for presidential, national assembly, and governorship nominations. The judgment mandates INEC to amend its electoral timetable to align with the statutory requirements.