The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that any primary election conducted outside its May 30, 2026 deadline remains invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns an earlier Federal High Court judgment challenging parts of the commission’s electoral timetable.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this during an interview with The Punch, stressing that political parties must continue to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 while the commission’s appeal remains unresolved.
Haruna said political parties should be guided by the existing electoral framework pending the outcome of the appeal filed by INEC against the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“Obviously, for now, any primary held outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will be invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment in INEC’s appeal against the ruling that the timetable breached the Electoral Act 2026 in some of its provisions,” he stated.
He added, “In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act.”
The warning comes amid mounting legal disputes surrounding INEC’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general election.
The controversy followed a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit filed by the Youth Party against INEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026.
In the ruling, Justice Umar nullified aspects of INEC’s electoral guidelines and timetable for the 2027 elections, holding that the commission lacked the legal authority to shorten timelines already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court ruled that INEC could not lawfully abridge timelines stipulated for the submission of party membership registers and candidates’ particulars, declaring that the commission acted outside its statutory powers.
Following the judgment, INEC filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution, maintaining that its timetable was issued in accordance with its constitutional responsibilities and powers under the Electoral Act.
Before the court ruling, the commission had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the official period for political parties to conduct primaries for the 2027 elections.
However, in a separate but related development, another Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed INEC’s constitutional powers to issue and amend election schedules.
Justice James Omotosho, while ruling in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, held that INEC possesses the authority to issue election timetables and schedules of activities.
The judge nevertheless cautioned that the commission must exercise such powers strictly within the limits prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress has ordered rerun primary elections in several federal and state constituencies in Kaduna State following complaints and petitions arising from its recently concluded primaries.
Chairman of the ADC Primary Election Appeals Committee, Dr Muhammed Fagge, disclosed that the panel discovered widespread irregularities and procedural violations after reviewing petitions and documentary evidence submitted by aggrieved aspirants.
According to him, the committee found cases involving omission of aspirants from ballot papers, inadequate evidence that voting took place, and other irregularities affecting the credibility of the primaries.
In the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, the committee directed a fresh primary after concluding that Ibrahim Kubau, a screened aspirant, was excluded from the ballot papers.
The panel also ordered another rerun in the Kaduna South Federal Constituency after allegedly finding no credible evidence that elections were conducted across all wards.
Fagge said rerun exercises would take place in several affected constituencies and wards, including Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi.
He explained that the committee’s decisions were aimed at preserving the integrity and credibility of the party’s nomination process.
The appeals committee also ruled that any attempt to adopt a consensus arrangement in the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary would be invalid unless all aspirants consented to the process.
Fagge insisted that no aspirant should be denied a fair opportunity because of procedural breaches or electoral irregularities.
INEC’s latest position now places political parties under pressure to ensure strict compliance with the commission’s timetable, as any primary conducted beyond the May 30 deadline could face legal challenges pending the final determination of the appeal.
