*Ruling may trigger defections
By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guideline requiring political parties to submit a register and database of all members by May 10 as a condition for contesting the 2027 general elections.
Justice M.G. Umar delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by the Youth Party.
The court held that INEC must comply with the 120-day pre-election deadline prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party registers.
“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 guidelines,” the judgment stated.
Justice Umar ruled that all registered parties now have until September to submit an updated list of members, effectively nullifying the initial May 10 deadline.
The ruling also gives politicians who lose primary elections in their parties the opportunity to defect to another party to pursue their ambitions.
The presidential and National Assembly elections have been scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.
