Court Upholds INEC's Authority for 2027 Election Timetable

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to establish the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The court dismissed a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that contested INEC's legal backing to prescribe dates for party primaries.

The SDP had approached the court in April, raising five questions and seeking seven reliefs regarding INEC's authority. During the proceedings, Dr. Alex Izinyon SAN, representing INEC, argued that the commission possessed constitutional authority to regulate the electoral process, including the release of election schedules.

The court agreed with INEC's position, stating that the commission's actions were within the powers granted by the Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2026. The judgment reinforced INEC's role in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections and rejected the SDP's claim that political parties should independently determine the timing of their primaries without interference from the electoral body.