INEC warns parties Primaries after May 30 risk invalidation
INEC warns parties Primaries after May 30 risk invalidation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties that any primary election conducted beyond its May 30 deadline may be deemed invalid, unless a higher court overturns an earlier Federal High Court ruling on the issue.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with The Punch.
He said parties are expected to continue operating under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 while the commission’s appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal.
Haruna stated: “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.
“In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act.”
The warning comes amid an ongoing legal tussle over INEC’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, had nullified parts of INEC’s electoral guidelines and scheduling framework for the polls.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the Youth Party, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, in which the court held that INEC could not lawfully shorten timelines set out under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for submission of party membership records and candidate details.
The court also ruled that the electoral body acted beyond its statutory powers by abridging legally prescribed timelines.
INEC has since appealed the decision and also sought a stay of execution, insisting its timetable aligns with its constitutional mandate.
Prior to the ruling, the commission had set April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for political parties to conduct their primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, while also issuing additional compliance deadlines.
Meanwhile, in a separate ruling delivered shortly after INEC filed its appeal, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the commission’s authority to issue and adjust election timetables.
He held that while INEC has the constitutional power to determine electoral schedules, such powers must still be exercised within the limits of the Electoral Act 2026.
In another development, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election appeals committee in Kaduna State has ordered rerun primaries in several constituencies following petitions from aggrieved aspirants.
The committee, chaired by Dr Muhammed Fagge, said it reviewed petitions, documents and submissions before arriving at its decisions.
Fagge said the panel uncovered irregularities and fraudulent practices in parts of the primaries, adding that some exercises were declared inconclusive.
Rerun elections were ordered in constituencies including Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, Kaduna South Federal Constituency and several others across Kaura, Soba, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Kagarko, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru, Kudan/Makarfi and surrounding areas.
He explained that the decision was taken to protect the credibility of the nomination process and ensure fairness to all aspirants.
The committee also ruled that any attempt to adopt consensus or affirmation in the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary would be invalid without the consent of all stakeholders.
Fagge added that no aspirant should be denied a fair opportunity due to procedural lapses or electoral irregularities.
