The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) possesses the legal authority to issue and modify election timetables when necessary, declaring the 2027 electoral schedule valid and consistent with the Electoral Act 2026.
In his judgment, Justice James Omotosho stated that election timetables extend beyond voting dates to include critical pre-election processes such as the submission of party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries. He emphasized that although INEC can adjust the timetable, any changes must strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The ruling followed a suit by the Social Democratic Party, which challenged INEC’s authority to alter the 120-day timeline for party primaries and submission of candidate documents. 
The decision comes shortly after a separate judgment by Justice Mohammed Umar of the same court, who ruled that INEC lacks the power to fix timelines for political party primaries ahead of general elections. In that case, filed by the Youth Party, the court held that such authority is not provided under Sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act. INEC, represented by counsel Alex Izinyon, had argued that the matter was merely hypothetical and not properly before the court.
