The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is yet to decide its next move following a Federal High Court judgement that cancelled key parts of its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
According to the electoral body, it is currently waiting to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgement before taking any official action.
INEC spokesperson, Wilfred Ifogah, disclosed this in Abuja during an interview with Leadership Weekend.
He explained that the commission would carefully study the judgement once the official court documents are received before deciding on the appropriate response.
The controversy began after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled against parts of INEC’s revised election timetable for the 2027 polls.
Justice M.G. Umar reportedly held that the commission exceeded its legal powers by introducing timelines that conflicted with provisions already stated in the Electoral Act 2026.
The court specifically faulted aspects of the timetable relating to party primaries, candidate submission, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists and campaign periods.
As a result, the affected sections of INEC’s timetable were set aside.
The case was filed by the Youth Party, which challenged the commission’s authority to shorten timelines already protected under the Electoral Act.
Following the judgement, several political parties welcomed the ruling and described it as a victory for democracy and internal party freedom.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) praised the court’s decision, saying it confirmed concerns the party had earlier raised about INEC’s guidelines.
ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi stated that the judgement would strengthen political participation and remove restrictions affecting politicians seeking to switch parties or contest elections on different platforms.
The African Action Congress (AAC) also reacted positively, describing the ruling as a victory for constitutional order and the independence of political parties.
The party maintained that political organisations should have the freedom to manage their internal processes without unnecessary interference.
The development is expected to influence political activities and party preparations ahead of the 2027 elections as stakeholders continue to monitor INEC’s next move.
