Court Nullifies INEC's Membership Deadline for Parties

On a recent ruling, Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) deadline requiring political parties to submit their membership registers by May 10, 2026.

The court found that this deadline was contrary to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates that political parties must submit their candidate particulars no later than 120 days before an election. The ruling emphasized that INEC cannot abridge the statutory period established by the legislation.

The court's decision is significant as it reopens the political transfer window for politicians dissatisfied with their current parties, allowing them to defect until September 2026. Furthermore, the ruling limits INEC's ability to impose administrative deadlines outside the provisions of the Electoral Act, reinforcing judicial scrutiny over electoral guidelines.

This decision is expected to impact the political landscape significantly as it allows for greater flexibility in party membership and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 elections.