The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not take immediate action following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified its directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The court judgment struck down INEC’s earlier order mandating all political parties to submit their official membership lists by May 10, 2026, while also ruling that the commission lacks the legal authority to dictate timelines for internal party primaries and candidate selection processes.
Speaking on the development, INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, said the commission was yet to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment and would not issue an official position until its legal implications are fully reviewed.
Meanwhile, political parties have expressed mixed reactions to the ruling. While the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed the judgment as a validation of concerns over strict electoral guidelines, opposition groups warned that extending timelines could trigger internal disputes and allow politicians rejected by larger parties to infiltrate smaller opposition platforms
