Court Rules INEC Must Align Timetable with Electoral Act

On a recent ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Jame Omotosho, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act when issuing election timetables. This decision came as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against INEC.

The court nullified INEC's guidelines for the 2027 general elections, stating that the commission cannot lawfully abridge the statutory period of 120 days for political parties to submit their candidates. The ruling emphasized that INEC is empowered to issue timetables but must do so in strict compliance with the Electoral Act.

The court also noted that the suit was not statute-barred and that INEC's defense, which claimed its power was not limited in this regard, was rejected. The judgment reinforces the legal framework governing electoral processes in Nigeria, ensuring that political parties have adequate time to conduct their primaries.