INEC Battles Six Major Suits Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing at least six major court cases that could affect preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The suits, pending before the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, challenge INEC’s powers, its revised election timetable and the legal status of some political parties.

The litigation comes barely four months after the commission released its revised timetable for the elections.

Under the timetable, political parties were expected to submit membership registers between March 24 and April 25, conclude primaries by May 31, while the nomination portal for presidential and National Assembly candidates opened on June 27 and will close on July 11.

Presidential and National Assembly campaigns are scheduled to begin on August 19, while the elections will hold on January 16, 2027. Governorship and state Assembly polls are fixed for February 6, 2027.

The PUNCH highlights the major cases.

1. The most significant of the suits is FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, filed by the Youth Party against INEC before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The party challenged key provisions of INEC’s revised timetable, arguing that the commission lacked the legal authority to prescribe timelines that allegedly curtailed periods expressly guaranteed under the Electoral Act.

The suit specifically questioned deadlines relating to the submission of party membership registers, conduct of party primaries, submission of nomination forms, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, and publication of candidates’ particulars. It sought declarations that the disputed provisions were unlawful and orders restraining INEC from enforcing them.

In its judgment, the Federal High Court held that although INEC has constitutional powers to organise elections and issue guidelines, those powers cannot override or abridge timelines expressly prescribed by the Electoral Act. The court consequently nullified the portions of the revised timetable found to be inconsistent with the Act and restrained the commission from implementing them.

Dissatisfied with the decision, INEC appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the trial court wrongly curtailed its constitutional and statutory powers to regulate electoral activities.

According to the commission, the election timetable is an integrated programme in which every stage—from submission of membership registers and conduct of primaries to nomination of candidates, campaigns and publication of final lists—is interconnected. It argued that removing isolated timelines would create uncertainty and disrupt preparations for the 2027 elections.

The appeal has been argued before the Court of Appeal, which has reserved judgment. A date for the judgment is yet to be announced.

The case is particularly significant because it directly affects the deadlines already prescribed for party primaries and the submission of nomination forms.

2. Another major challenge came in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, instituted by the Social Democratic Party against INEC.

Like the Youth Party, the SDP questioned aspects of the revised election timetable, particularly provisions relating to nomination and substitution of candidates.

The party contended that INEC’s administrative timelines conflicted with the Electoral Act and sought declarations nullifying the disputed provisions.

Although the Federal High Court affirmed INEC’s constitutional authority to issue an election timetable, it ruled that the commission could not lawfully alter statutory timelines relating to nomination and substitution of candidates. It consequently invalidated the affected portions of the timetable.

INEC appealed the judgment, maintaining that the trial court failed to appreciate the operational realities of election management and that every activity contained in the timetable was designed to ensure the orderly conduct of the elections.

The appeal has also been heard by the Court of Appeal, which reserved judgment after taking arguments from the parties.

The dispute remains significant as political parties continue submitting Forms EC9, EC9A, EC9B, EC9C, EC9D and EC9E through INEC’s nomination portal for presidential and National Assembly candidates.

3. The appeals arising from FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 and FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026 have now become the most consequential pre-election litigation ahead of the 2027 polls.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja held that the Independent National Electoral Commission exceeded its statutory powers by shortening timelines prescribed under the Electoral Act, 2026, through its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.

The court nullified the affected provisions, holding that INEC could not abridge timelines relating to party primaries, submission of membership registers, nomination, withdrawal and substitution of candidates where they conflicted with the Act.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, the court affirmed INEC’s constitutional and statutory power to issue election timetables and regulate electoral activities. However, it ruled that such powers must be exercised within the confines of the Electoral Act.