Politicians seeking to defect ahead of the 2027 general elections still have an opportunity of doing so, a Federal High Court has ruled..
It has by implication overruled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stance on the matter, by extending the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers to September 2026.
A judgment, delivered by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the unullified guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by 10 May as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections.
The latest ruling was a fallout of the ruling on a suit filed by the Youth Party, and upon which the court held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
That provision was for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
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“Having regard to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its 2027 election guidelines”, the court ruled.
The implication of the ruling is that registered political parties still have up til September 2026 to submit updated membership registers.
Takeaway from the court ruling: The Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit statutory period as provided for constitutionally
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