The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a warning to political parties regarding the conduct of primary elections, stating that any such elections held after the May 30 deadline will be deemed invalid unless a higher court provides a different ruling, according to Naija News.
This information was shared by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, during an interview with Punch.
Haruna emphasised the importance of adhering to the Electoral Act 2026, highlighting that this compliance is necessary while INEC’s appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal. He reiterated that any primaries conducted beyond the stipulated deadline will currently not hold validity.
Haruna said, “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.”
Court Nullified Timetable Provisions
Haruna’s position followed the legal dispute over INEC’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general election.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, had nullified aspects of INEC’s electoral guidelines and schedule for the 2027 elections.
The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP) against INEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026.
YP is a recognised political party in Nigeria, officially registered by INEC. It was founded by young professionals and activists to expand the democratic space, challenge “money politics” and godfatherism, and promote a new generation of accountable leadership.
Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten timelines provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
The court also held that the commission acted outside its statutory powers by abridging timelines already provided in the Act.
INEC has appealed the judgment and sought a stay of execution. The commission insisted that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
Before the ruling, INEC had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for political parties to conduct primaries for the 2027 general election.
The commission also directed parties to comply with other timelines in its revised election schedule.
Less than 24 hours after INEC appealed Justice Umar’s judgment, another Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed the commission’s power to issue and alter election timetables.
Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026.
He held that INEC was constitutionally empowered to issue election timetables and schedules of activities.
The judge, however, ruled that the commission must exercise those powers within the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.
ADC Orders Reruns In Kaduna
Naija News reports that the clarification comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election appeals committee in Kaduna State ordered reruns in several federal and state constituencies.
The committee chairman, Dr Muhammed Fagge, said the panel reviewed petitions, documentary evidence and submissions by aggrieved aspirants.
He said the committee found irregularities and fraudulent practices in some primaries.
The panel declared several primaries inconclusive and ordered reruns where it found substantial irregularities, procedural breaches, omission of aspirants from ballot papers and insufficient evidence that voting took place.
In Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, the committee ordered a fresh primary after finding that Ibrahim Kubau, a duly screened aspirant, was omitted from ballot papers.
It also ordered a rerun in Kaduna South Federal Constituency after investigations allegedly showed no credible evidence that elections were held across all wards.
Fagge said reruns would be held in affected wards and constituencies across Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi, among others.
He said the decisions were aimed at protecting the credibility and integrity of the party’s nomination process. The committee also ruled on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary.
It said any attempt to adopt consensus or affirmation would be invalid unless all parties involved consented.
Fagge stressed that no aspirant should be denied a fair opportunity due to procedural lapses or electoral irregularities.
