BREAKING: Court Voids INEC Deadline on Party Membership Register Submission
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck down the Independent National Electoral Commission’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Justice M.G. Umar delivered the judgement on Thursday in a suit instituted by the Youth Party, ruling that INEC cannot shorten the timeline already provided under the Electoral Act 2026.
The court held that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act allows political parties to submit the particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, making INEC’s earlier deadline unlawful.
Justice Umar consequently declared that all registered political parties have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers to the electoral body.
The ruling is expected to create room for politicians dissatisfied with the outcomes of party primaries to defect to other political parties and still pursue their political ambitions ahead of the 2027 polls.
INEC had earlier 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
