Court Upholds INEC's Authority on Election Timetables

On Tuesday, March 27, 2026, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment affirming the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) power to issue and alter election timetables. This ruling came in response to a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which questioned INEC's authority under the Electoral Act 2026.

The court held that while INEC has the power to issue election timetables, it must do so strictly within the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act. The SDP's suit, filed on April 9, 2026, sought to restrain INEC from enforcing timelines it alleged were inconsistent with the Act.

The court ruled that INEC's actions were not ultra vires and that it was empowered to alter election timetables to ensure compliance with statutory timelines. The judgment emphasized that without a proper timetable, the electoral process could become chaotic, thus validating INEC's role in maintaining order in the electoral system.