The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party membership registration, primaries, among others.
According to the revised timetable issued by INEC, all political parties were expected to submit their membership registers by May 10, conduct primaries to select candidates, and apply for withdrawals and submit replacements for the 2027 general election before the end of May.
But the court ruled that the commission lacks the statutory powers to abridge timelines provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, was filed by the Youth Party (YP) on March 11 with INEC as the sole defendant.
The plaintiff, through its counsel, J.O. Olotu, sought several reliefs, including a declaration that INEC’s powers to receive notices of party primaries and candidates’ particulars, as well as its duty to monitor the exercises under sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, do not extend to fixing timelines for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a judgement delivered by Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, said INEC cannot “fix or prescribe the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections”.
The judge ruled that the powers granted to INEC under sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act do not extend to determining timelines for party primaries.
A declaration is hereby made that upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the defendant to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections,” he ruled.
Umar also held that INEC cannot lawfully shorten the statutory period allowed for political parties to submit the particulars of candidates.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC said it viewed the ruling as vindication of its objections to key aspects of the electoral body’s guidelines at the time they were issued.
The party also recalled its specific objections to the strict timelines on membership registration as well as the conduct of party primaries.
“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” it said.
ADC said that the ruling, which removed the impediment placed by the INEC guidelines on politicians who wished to seek alternative platforms to contest elections, was a positive development that would promote freedom of association.
“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC.
“Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” the opposition coalition said.
