Court Orders INEC to Amend 2027 Election Timetable

On Tuesday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to amend its timetable for the 2027 general elections to align with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The ruling followed a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on April 9, 2026, which challenged INEC's revised timetable that shortened the period for political parties to submit their membership registers and candidate nominations.

The court held that INEC does have the authority to issue election timetables but cannot abridge the timeframes set by the Electoral Act. Specifically, the court stated that INEC's actions were ultra vires, meaning beyond its legal power, as they reduced the time allowed for parties to submit their candidate names.

The court declared that the deadlines for political parties to submit nominations must comply with the stipulated 90-day period and ordered INEC to amend its election timetable accordingly.