News Investigators/ Precious Nwadimuya, former chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Asaba, Delta has commended the Federal High Court judgment limiting INEC’s powers over political party activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, invalidated the timelines that INEC, issued for conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.
The Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar in his judgment, set aside INEC’s May 10, deadline requiring political parties to submit a register and database of all their members as a condition for qualifying to participate in the general elections
Justice Umar held that the time-frame the commission imposed on political parties to conduct their primaries and to submit, withdraw, or replace names and particulars of their candidates for the general elections “is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
Mr Nwadimuya told NAN on Friday in Asaba, that the judgment offered fresh opportunities to aggrieved aspirants dissatisfied with recently concluded party primaries.
According to Mr Nwadimuya, affected politicians now have more time to seek redress within their parties or join alternative political platforms.
He noted that political parties now have until September 2026 to submit membership registers following the court’s decision.
Mr Nwadimuya, also a member of the general council of bar, added that parties can now admit aggrieved politicians, especially office holders denied tickets by major political parties.
Also reacting, legal practitioner Raymos Guanah said the judgment as having far-reaching political and electoral implications ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mr Guanah, a former commissioner of Lands and Survey in Delta, said political parties can now change candidates until 60 days before the election, as allowed under the Electoral Act.
He stated that the ruling extended the period for parties to submit their membership registers to INEC.
According to him, the judgment creates room for politicians to switch parties and still participate in fresh primary processes.
He added that INEC cannot fix timelines for party primaries but only monitor the exercises as provided by law.
Mr Guanah, however, argued that the judgment does not invalidate primaries already conducted by political parties.
He said parties satisfied with their primaries might retain their candidates in spite the court ruling.
According to him, the judgment merely gives political parties room to make adjustments where necessary.
Mr Guanah noted that the ruling does not resolve complaints arising from APC’s recently conducted primaries.
He also stated that opposition parties now have enough time to form alliances and strengthen strategies.
NAN