INEC Warns Political Parties of Invalid Primary Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that any primary elections conducted after the May 30, 2026, deadline are invalid. This directive follows a Federal High Court ruling by Justice Mohammed Umar, who found that INEC unlawfully shortened timelines for candidate submissions and party membership under the Electoral Act 2026.

While INEC has appealed the judgment, National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna advised parties to continue following the existing Act and established deadlines. In a related ruling, Justice James Omotosho affirmed the commission's authority to issue timetables but stipulated that such schedules must align with statutory timelines.

Separately, the African Democratic Congress is managing internal primary disputes. The party's appeals committee ordered reruns in several Kaduna State constituencies after identifying irregularities, including inconclusive voting and the omission of aspirants during the nomination process.