2027: INEC Nullifies Primaries Held After May 30 Deadline

The Independent National Electoral Commission has maintained that political parties cannot validly conduct primary elections after the May 30 deadline earlier set by the commission for the 2027 electoral process. The electoral body said the position remains in force unless the Court of Appeal overturns an earlier judgment delivered by the Federal High Court.

Speaking on the matter, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that political parties are expected to continue operating within the framework of the Electoral Act while the commission’s appeal remains before the appellate court.

The clarification follows legal disagreements over the timetable and guidelines released by INEC for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the next general election.

The controversy began after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled against certain aspects of INEC’s electoral timetable. In the suit filed by the Youth Party, the court held that the commission could not reduce timelines already provided under the Electoral Act for the submission of party records and candidate details. The court also ruled that INEC exceeded its powers by altering some timelines established by law.

Following the judgment, INEC challenged the ruling and filed an appeal. The commission also sought a stay of execution, insisting that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional responsibilities and duties under electoral laws.

Before the court judgment, INEC had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the period within which political parties were expected to conduct their primaries for the 2027 elections. Parties were also directed to comply with other dates contained in the commission’s election schedule.

In a separate development, another Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed that INEC has the authority to issue and adjust election timetables. The court, however, stated that such powers must be exercised within the limits provided by the Electoral Act. The ruling came in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party and provided a different legal interpretation regarding the commission’s authority.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Appeals Committee in Kaduna State has ordered rerun primary elections in several constituencies after reviewing complaints submitted by aspirants dissatisfied with the party’s primary process.

The committee said its investigation uncovered irregularities in some of the elections. As a result, fresh primaries were ordered in areas where there were allegations of procedural breaches, omission of qualified aspirants, and inadequate evidence that voting actually took place.

Among the affected constituencies is the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, where the committee found that a screened aspirant was excluded from the ballot. The Kaduna South Federal Constituency was also affected after questions arose over whether elections were properly conducted across all wards.

Additional reruns were approved in several federal and state constituencies across Kaduna State as part of efforts to resolve disputes arising from the party primaries.

The committee also ruled that any attempt to produce candidates through consensus arrangements in the Kaduna North Senatorial District must receive the approval of all interested parties. It maintained that every aspirant deserves a fair opportunity in the nomination process.

Despite the ongoing legal disputes and internal party appeals, INEC has maintained that any primary election conducted after May 30 remains at risk of being rejected unless the Court of Appeal rules otherwise.

The commission’s position leaves political parties waiting for the outcome of the appeal, which could determine the validity of several nomination processes ahead of the 2027 general election.