Federal High Court Invalidates INEC’s Deadline for Party Membership Submissions Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Federal High Court (FHC) has nullified the directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that political parties submit their membership registers and databases by Sunday, May 10, 2026, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

In his ruling on Thursday May 21, 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court Abuja Division declared that INEC lacked the legal authority to shorten the timeline already provided under the Electoral Act 2026 for submitting party membership and candidate documents.

The case was brought by the Youth Party, which challenged INEC’s directive and sought to enforce compliance with the statutory provisions of the Electoral Act.

The court noted that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires parties to submit candidate details at least 120 days before an election, and that INEC cannot override this statutory timeline. Justice Umar declared that the commission’s attempt to impose an earlier deadline was unlawful.

With the ruling, political parties now have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers and candidate information ahead of the 2027 elections.

Analysts suggest the decision will give parties greater flexibility for negotiations, realignments, and potential defections after primaries, potentially reshaping political strategies across the country.

Previously, INEC had announced January 16, 2027, as the presidential and National Assembly election date, with governorship and State Assembly elections set for February 6, 2027.

The commission initially set April 21, 2026, as the deadline for party membership submissions, later extending it to May 10 after consultations with parties.

INEC had emphasised that timely submission was necessary to verify membership registers and ensure compliance with electoral regulations.

Although all 22 registered political parties had complied with the May 10 deadline, the court’s ruling renders the directive unenforceable.

Legal experts say the judgement reinforces the supremacy of statutory law over administrative guidelines and could set a precedent limiting INEC’s regulatory powers.

Observers predict the ruling may influence party primaries, candidate substitutions, and defections while also affecting INEC’s election planning.

As at the moment of filing this report, the commission has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the decision, but the judgement highlights the judiciary’s increasing role in shaping Nigeria’s electoral process.