The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will study the court ruling voiding the general election timetable.
On Wednesday, a federal high court in Abuja nullified the
timelines of INEC for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of
candidates.
According to the revised timetable issued by INEC, all
political parties were expected to submit their membership registers by May 10,
conduct primaries to select candidates, and apply for withdrawals and submit
replacements for the 2027 general election before the end of May.
But the court ruled that the commission lacks the statutory
powers to abridge timelines provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, was filed by the Youth
Party (YP) on March 11 with INEC as the sole defendant.
The plaintiff, through its counsel, J.O. Olotu, sought
several reliefs, including a declaration that INEC’s powers to receive notices
of party primaries and candidates’ particulars, as well as its duty to monitor
the exercises under sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, do
not extend to fixing timelines for political parties to conduct primaries ahead
of the 2027 general election.
In a judgement delivered by Mohammed Umar, presiding judge,
said INEC cannot “fix or prescribe the timetable within which political parties
may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates
for the 2027 general elections”.
The judge ruled that the powers granted to INEC under
sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act do not extend to determining
timelines for party primaries.
“A declaration is hereby made that upon a proper
consideration and interpretation of the provisions of sections 29, 82 and 84(1)
of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the defendant to receive notice of
party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to
attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or
prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their
primary elections,” the judge ruled.
Umar also held that INEC cannot lawfully shorten the
statutory period allowed for political parties to submit the particulars of
candidates.
‘WE’LL STUDY JUDGEMENT TO DECIDE ON NEXT STEP’
Speaking with TheCable on Friday, Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s
director of voter education and publicity, said the commission would critically
study the court verdict before taking any decision.
“We have not received the judgement, and we cannot comment
on it. Yes, the judgement is in the public domain, and we don’t know the
reasons for the decision that was taken,” she said.
“So, there’s need to study the whole judgement and decide on
the next step to take.”
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