Another court approves INEC’s power to issue election guidelines

By John Azu

A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue guidelines and time table for the conduct of elections.

Justice James Omotosho on Tuesday held that INEC can also alter the timetable to give effect to the constitutional provisions.

“This honourable court hereby declares that the timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general election issued by the defendant is valid and legally issued, stating timeframe within which political parties are to hold their primaries and

stating timeframe for the submission of membership registers of political parties,” he ruled.

“This honourable court hereby declares that the defendant cannot lawfully abridge or vary the 90 days period for substitution of candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

“This honourable court hereby declares that the defendant cannot abridge the time stipulated in section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 given to political parties to submit the names of their candidates atleast 120 days to the date of election

“This honourable court hereby declares that the defendant is hereby ordered to amend the Election Timetable”.

The judgement is coming fee hours after INEC appealed an earlier judgement of the high court which nullified its election guidelines as a breach of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 in a suit by Young Party.

The latest suit was filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) contending that INEC does not possess the power to fix or prescribe time table for the conduct of party primaries.

The party, in a suit filed on the 9th of April, 2026 against raised five questions for determination by the court.

However, INEC’s counsel Alex Izinyon (SAN) argued that the cause of action had become statutte barred.

He further submitted that the electoral body has the power donated by the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026, adding that a host of decided cases of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, allow it to make time table to regulate the conduct of election.