THE F.H.C IN ABUJA HAS VOIDED THE 2027 ELECTION TIMETABLE ISSUED BY THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC).(PHOTO)

 The Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the 2027 election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the 2027 election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on a suit brought by Youth Party, held that INEC’s action imposed restrictive timeframes on political parties for the conduct of primaries and other pre-election activities contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Justice Umar held that INEC lacked the statutory power to fix or prescribe the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The plaintiff; Youth Party, had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, sued INEC as sole defendant.

The plaintiff, in the originating summons dated and filed March 11, sought six reliefs.

Justice Umar granted all the plaintiff’s six reliefs.

The judge declared that INEC cannot lawfully abridge or limit the statutory periods provided under the Electoral Act in relation to submission of personal particulars of candidates, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, among others.

Justuce Umar, therefore, set aside the portions of INEC’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections which imposed timelines inconsistent with the Electoral Act, 2026.