- political parties had been directed to complete their primary elections within a period running from April 23 to May 30, 2026
- The court nevertheless maintained that such powers must be exercised within the boundaries of existing electoral laws
- Fagge also warned against the adoption of consensus arrangements without the approval of all stakeholders
Political parties seeking to conduct primary elections after the May 30 deadline fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have to wait for the outcome of an ongoing legal battle before such exercises can be recognised.
Eko Hot Blog reports that INEC said the validity of any primary conducted beyond the deadline now depends on the decision of the Court of Appeal, where the commission is challenging a Federal High Court judgment that questioned aspects of its election timetable.
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Speaking on the issue, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stressed that political parties should continue to comply with the Electoral Act 2026 until the appellate court delivers its verdict.
The controversy stems from a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which faulted portions of INEC’s schedule for activities leading to the 2027 general election.
The court ruled that the commission could not alter timelines already established by law, particularly those relating to the submission of candidates’ details and party membership records.
The case was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that some provisions of INEC’s timetable were inconsistent with the Electoral Act. In its decision, the court agreed that the electoral body had gone beyond the limits of its statutory authority in certain areas.
INEC, however, disagreed with the ruling and immediately approached the Court of Appeal, insisting that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional responsibilities for managing elections. The commission also sought a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
Before the legal dispute emerged, political parties had been directed to complete their primary elections within a period running from April 23 to May 30, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 polls.
Adding another dimension to the matter, a separate Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho affirmed that INEC possesses the constitutional authority to issue election schedules and adjust timelines where necessary.
The court nevertheless maintained that such powers must be exercised within the boundaries of existing electoral laws.
The uncertainty surrounding party primaries comes at a time when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is grappling with disputes arising from its nomination process in Kaduna State.
Following complaints from aspirants, the party’s appeals committee reviewed several petitions and concluded that irregularities affected a number of contests. The committee subsequently ordered fresh primaries in some constituencies and wards.
Chairman of the panel, Dr Muhammed Fagge, said investigations uncovered cases involving procedural violations, disputed voting processes and the exclusion of qualified aspirants from ballot papers.
Among the affected areas were the Ikara/Kubau and Kaduna South federal constituencies, where the committee determined that fresh exercises were necessary to guarantee fairness and credibility.
The rerun elections are expected to cover several locations across Kaduna State as the party attempts to resolve disputes ahead of the next phase of the electoral process.
Fagge also warned against the adoption of consensus arrangements without the approval of all stakeholders, insisting that every aspirant must be given a fair opportunity to participate in the nomination process.
With INEC’s appeal still pending, the commission’s position remains that political parties should adhere to the existing legal framework, as any primary conducted outside the previously announced deadline could face questions over its legitimacy.
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