INEC warns parties that primaries beyond May 30 deadline may be invalid amid ongoing court battles over Electoral Act 2026 timelines
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Abuja, Nigeria, on 5 June 2026, has warned that any political party primary conducted outside the commission’s May 30 deadline remains invalid amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding the INEC May 30 primaries deadline dispute.
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Haruna stated that political parties must continue to operate within the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 while awaiting the outcome of appeals currently before the Court of Appeal. He stressed that the legal status of the deadline remains binding unless overturned by a higher court.
According to him, the Federal High Court ruling that nullified aspects of INEC’s election timetable has created uncertainty, but the commission’s position remains that parties are still bound by existing electoral laws pending appellate determination.
He explained that any primary election conducted beyond the stipulated timeframe would be considered invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the earlier judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The INEC May 30 primaries deadline dispute stems from a judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party, where Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that INEC could not lawfully shorten timelines provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court held that the electoral commission acted outside its statutory powers by altering prescribed nomination timelines, a ruling that has since been appealed by INEC.
INEC, however, insists its timetable for the 2027 general elections, which set April 23 to May 30, 2026 as the window for party primaries, was issued in line with its constitutional responsibilities.
In a parallel development, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed INEC’s authority to issue election timetables, while also noting that such powers must operate within the limits of the Electoral Act 2026.
The conflicting judicial interpretations have further intensified the INEC May 30 primaries deadline dispute, leaving political parties in a state of uncertainty ahead of candidate nominations.
Meanwhile, internal party processes continue across the country, with the African Democratic Congress ordering rerun primaries in several constituencies in Kaduna State following petitions and allegations of irregularities.
The party’s appeals committee cited procedural breaches, missing aspirants from ballot papers, and insufficient evidence of voting in some constituencies as reasons for ordering fresh elections.
As legal battles over electoral timelines continue, INEC has urged political parties to exercise caution and strictly adhere to existing laws until final judicial clarification is reached.
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The commission reiterated that compliance remains essential to avoid invalidation of primaries and potential disruptions to the 2027 general election schedule.
