2027: INEC insists primaries held after May 30 are invalid

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that any primary election conducted after its May 30, 2026 deadline remains invalid unless a higher court overturns an earlier Federal High Court ruling on the matter.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said parties must continue to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 pending the outcome of the commission’s appeal before the Court of Appeal.

According to Haruna, any primary conducted outside the approved timeframe risks invalidation unless the appellate court sets aside the Federal High Court judgment challenging aspects of INEC’s timetable.

The controversy stems from a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified parts of INEC’s guidelines for the 2027 general election, ruling that the commission lacked the power to shorten timelines prescribed under the Electoral Act.

INEC has appealed the decision and sought a stay of execution, insisting its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional responsibilities.

Before the judgment, the commission had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the period for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, another Federal High Court judge, Justice James Omotosho, affirmed INEC’s constitutional authority to issue election timetables, although he held that such powers must be exercised within the limits set by the Electoral Act.

The clarification comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ordered rerun primaries in several constituencies in Kaduna State after its appeals committee uncovered irregularities, including the omission of aspirants from ballot papers and inadequate evidence of voting in some areas.