BREAKING: Panic As INEC Declares Primaries Recently Conducted Invalid [DETAILS]
Political parties across Nigeria have been thrown into uncertainty following a warning by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that any primary election conducted after its May 30, 2026 deadline remains invalid pending the outcome of an ongoing legal dispute.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stated that political parties risk losing candidates produced through primaries held outside the commission’s approved timetable unless a superior court overturns an earlier Federal High Court ruling currently under appeal.
Speaking in an interview, Haruna urged political parties to continue complying with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 while INEC pursues its appeal before the Court of Appeal.
“Obviously, for now, any primary held outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will be invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment in INEC’s appeal against the ruling that the timetable breached the Electoral Act 2026 in some of its provisions. In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act,” he said.
The controversy stems from a judgment delivered by a Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Mohammed Umar invalidated portions of INEC’s timetable and guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling followed a suit filed by the Youth Party, challenging the commission’s authority to alter statutory timelines stipulated in the Electoral Act. In his judgment, Justice Umar held that INEC lacked the power to reduce the periods prescribed under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership lists and candidate particulars.
According to the court, the commission exceeded its legal authority by shortening timelines already established by law.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, INEC immediately filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution, maintaining that its timetable was prepared in line with its constitutional mandate and statutory responsibilities.
Before the court ruling, the electoral commission had designated April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the official window for political parties to conduct their primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adding another dimension to the legal dispute, a separate Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a contrasting judgment less than 24 hours after INEC filed its appeal.
Justice James Omotosho, while ruling in a suit instituted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), affirmed that the Constitution empowers INEC to establish election schedules and timelines. However, he stressed that such powers must be exercised within the limits prescribed by the Electoral Act.
The conflicting court decisions have created uncertainty for political parties, many of which are still grappling with disputes arising from their recently concluded primaries.
The development is already having implications within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, where the party’s Primary Election Appeals Committee has ordered fresh primaries in several constituencies after uncovering what it described as widespread irregularities.
Chairman of the committee, Dr. Muhammed Fagge, said investigations into petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants revealed multiple cases of manipulation, procedural violations and questionable conduct during the primaries.
He explained that several contests were declared inconclusive due to missing aspirants’ names on ballot papers, lack of evidence that voting actually took place, and other breaches of party guidelines.
Among the affected areas is the Ikara/Kubau Federal Constituency, where the committee ordered a fresh election after discovering that a duly screened aspirant, Ibrahim Kubau, was omitted from the ballot.
A rerun was also ordered in the Kaduna South Federal Constituency following findings that there was insufficient evidence to prove voting occurred across the wards involved.
Fagge announced that fresh primaries would be conducted in several wards and constituencies across Kaduna State, including Kaura, Soba, Ikara, Kajuru, Badarawa/Malali, Magajin Gari II, Birnin Gwari, Tudun Wada West, Igabi, Kagarko, Kawo, Zaria, Chikun/Kajuru and Kudan/Makarfi.
He said the committee’s decisions were aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process and ensuring fairness for all aspirants.
The committee also ruled on the Kaduna North Senatorial District primary, warning that any attempt to adopt a consensus candidate without the written consent of all stakeholders would be invalid.
As political parties continue to navigate internal disputes and legal challenges, INEC’s insistence on compliance with its existing timetable has heightened concerns among candidates and party officials. Until the Court of Appeal delivers its verdict, parties conducting fresh primaries beyond the May 30 deadline may face the risk of having such exercises declared invalid, potentially jeopardizing their participation in the 2027 general elections.
