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.
According to Ifogah, “The commission is yet to receive a copy of the ruling. So, it is when they probably get it, you will now know what the commission will say about it.”
He further clarified the current operational status of the agency by adding, “They can’t act until they get it. For now, we are still waiting for it,” signaling a temporary suspension of any counter-measures.
This administrative position aligns with earlier comments made by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity for the commission, Victoria Eta-Messi. She similarly disclosed that the headquarters was still awaiting the full text of the judgment and would refrain from offering any official commentary until its legal team thoroughly scrutinized the document.
Meanwhile, political parties have expressed conflicting views on the broader implications of the court’s decision. The African Democratic Congress revealed that it does not intend to adjust its existing operational schedule despite the legal victory.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, remarked that the judicial outcome served as a clear validation of their long-standing complaints against the strict regulatory guidelines.
The Interim National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki, the main opposition party argued that certain provisions within the Electoral Act of 2026 directly infringed upon the 1999 Constitution. The party claimed that the electoral umpire overstepped its constitutional boundaries by enforcing a highly compressed timeline for internal party administration.
In sharp contrast to the optimism shared by others, the Nigeria Democratic Congress raised alarms over the potential dangers of the judicial extension.
A prominent leader within the party, Ladipo Johnson, warned that the verdict could serve as a destabilizing factor for opposition coalitions rather than a victory.
He urged political stakeholders to treat the decision of Justice Umar with extreme caution, warning that the expanded timeline could lead to chaotic internal disputes.
Johnson explained that several opposition groups have collectively decided to stick to the original May 10 deadline to protect their ranks from political infiltration and sudden cross-carpeting.
The primary fear among opposition strategists is that politicians who fail to secure tickets during the primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress might use the extended timeframe to hijack tickets in smaller opposition parties, thereby disrupting existing local arrangements and weakening internal party unity.
Summarizing the prevailing anxiety among top strategists, Johnson concluded that “opposition leaders are viewing the extension as a Greek gift rather than an opportunity,” warning that the ruling might carry hidden penalties for the opposition.
