The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has struck down the guideline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice M.G. Umar in a suit filed by the Youth Party challenging the directive.
In the judgement, the court held that INEC lacked the authority to reduce the timeline already stipulated under the Electoral Act 2026 for submission of party documents relating to elections.
According to the court, Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act provides that political parties are required to submit the particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, making any shorter timeline imposed by INEC inconsistent with the law.
“A declaration is made that having regard to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days to an election, the defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 elections,” the judgement stated.
The decision means political parties now have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers and databases to the electoral commission.
The ruling is also expected to create room for politicians dissatisfied with the outcomes of party primaries to defect to other political platforms ahead of the elections.
INEC had fixed January 16, 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.