The Independent National Electoral Commission has stated that it cannot take immediate action following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja which nullified its directive regarding the 2027 general elections.
The electoral umpire had previously ordered all political parties in the country to submit their official membership registers by May 10, 2026.
However, the court ruled against this directive, sparking intense debate and diverse reactions across the nation’s political landscape.
In the legal action cited as suit FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, the presiding judge clarified the limits of the commission’s powers. The court affirmed that while the electoral body retains the authority to receive formal notices for primary elections, oversee the conduct of these exercises, and collect candidate details, it completely lacks the legal power to dictate or manipulate the scheduling of internal political party contests.
This judicial decision effectively dismantled the revised pre-election schedule previously released by the commission, which covered party primaries and candidate nominations.
Reacting to the judicial development, the electoral body indicated that it will not rush into taking a definitive stance on the matter. The Deputy Director of Publicity for the commission, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, explained during an interview that the agency requires sufficient time to process the legal implications of the verdict. He emphasized that the leadership must first secure a certified true copy of the ruling before making its official position public.
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