DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS reports that under the timetable released on February 26, political parties were required to submit their membership registers between March 24 and April 25, conclude their primary elections by May 31, while the nomination portal for presidential and National Assembly candidates opened on June 27 and is expected to close on July 11.
The commission also fixed July 18 to August 8 for the submission of governorship and State House of Assembly nomination forms. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on August 19.
INEC is expected to publish the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates on September 12, ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections slated for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Despite these milestones, the commission is currently facing at least six major lawsuits before the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, with the cases challenging its constitutional powers, the legality of its revised election timetable and the status of some registered political parties.
Legal observers believe the decisions in these cases could define the limits of INEC's administrative authority under the Electoral Act and determine which political parties will eventually participate in the 2027 elections.
Youth Party challenges INEC's timetable
One of the most significant cases is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, filed by the Youth Party before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The party argued that INEC exceeded its legal authority by introducing timelines that allegedly reduced periods expressly guaranteed under the Electoral Act.
The suit challenged deadlines relating to the submission of party membership registers, party primaries, nomination forms, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, as well as the publication of candidates' particulars. The party sought declarations nullifying those provisions and an order preventing INEC from enforcing them.
The Federal High Court ruled that although INEC possesses constitutional authority to organise elections and issue guidelines, those powers cannot override timelines expressly provided under the Electoral Act. Consequently, the court nullified the disputed provisions and restrained the commission from implementing them.
INEC has appealed the judgment, arguing that the lower court wrongly limited its constitutional responsibilities.
According to the commission, every stage of the electoral process—from submission of membership registers to party primaries, candidate nominations, campaigns and publication of final lists—is interconnected. It maintained that removing portions of the timetable would create uncertainty and disrupt preparations for the 2027 elections.
The Court of Appeal has heard arguments from both parties and reserved judgment, with no date yet fixed for its decision.
SDP also contests nomination timelines
Another major case is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, instituted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Like the Youth Party, the SDP challenged aspects of INEC's revised timetable, particularly provisions relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.
Although the Federal High Court affirmed INEC's constitutional authority to issue election timetables, it ruled that the commission could not alter statutory timelines governing candidate nomination and substitution.
INEC appealed the judgment, insisting the court failed to appreciate the practical realities of election administration and arguing that every activity contained in the timetable is necessary for an orderly electoral process.
The Court of Appeal has also reserved judgment in the matter.
The dispute remains significant as political parties continue uploading Forms EC9, EC9A, EC9B, EC9C, EC9D and EC9E through INEC's nomination portal.
Court of Appeal expected to determine INEC's powers
The appeals arising from both cases have become some of the most important pre-election litigations ahead of the 2027 polls.
INEC is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgments, insisting that the Federal High Court wrongly restricted powers granted to the commission under both the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
According to the commission, electoral activities are sequential and cannot be separated without disrupting the entire process.
The appellate court's ruling is expected to clarify the extent of INEC's authority to set administrative timelines beyond those expressly provided by law.
Suit seeks deregistration of five political parties
Another high-profile matter is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators against INEC, the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action People's Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.
The plaintiff sought an order directing INEC to deregister the five political parties.
The Federal High Court granted the request, but implementation of the judgment was suspended after the affected parties filed appeals.
The Court of Appeal subsequently granted a stay of execution, allowing the parties to retain their legal status pending the determination of their appeals.
Registration of NDC under legal scrutiny
Another pending case is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, filed by Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi against INEC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The plaintiff is challenging the registration and recognition of the political party, asking the court to determine whether the registration complied with constitutional and statutory provisions.
The outcome could determine whether the NDC retains its legal recognition before the publication of the final list of candidates in September.
Appeal court to decide fate of five parties
The five political parties affected by the deregistration order have also approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the Federal High Court's decision.
They argued that the trial judge erred in law by directing INEC to deregister them and urged the appellate court to preserve their legal status before the 2027 elections.
When the appeals came up before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on July 7, 2026, the matters were adjourned until July 14, 2026, to enable parties exchange and regularise court processes.
The outcome will determine whether the parties remain eligible to sponsor candidates before INEC publishes its final list of candidates.
Why the cases matter
Collectively, the six lawsuits have become the first major judicial examination of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Beyond testing the legality of INEC's revised timetable, the courts are expected to define the extent of the commission's constitutional authority and determine whether some political parties remain eligible to participate in the electoral process.
With party primaries already concluded, nomination exercises underway, presidential campaigns expected to commence on August 19, and the presidential election fixed for January 16, 2027, analysts believe the pending judgments could significantly influence Nigeria's electoral framework.
Lawyers express different opinions
Senior lawyer Mike Ahamba said the Court of Appeal would deliver its judgments within the constitutionally prescribed period but declined to comment on the likely outcome.
According to him, it would be inappropriate to speculate before the appellate court delivers its verdict.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bankole Akomolafe, expressed confidence that the ongoing litigation would not derail INEC's timetable.
He stated that the commission acted prudently by accepting candidate submissions from all affected parties while awaiting final court decisions.
According to him, if any political party eventually loses its legal status following the court's decision, INEC can simply exclude it from the election without disrupting the overall electoral process.
He also commended the Court of Appeal for granting a stay of execution on the deregistration judgment, saying the order allows the electoral process to continue without uncertainty.
Regarding the NDC registration dispute, Akomolafe questioned why INEC did not challenge the earlier judgment recognising the party if it believed constitutional requirements had not been met.
INEC insists preparations remain on course
INEC has maintained that the pending court cases will not disrupt preparations for the elections.
Speaking in a telephone interview, INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna said party primaries had already been concluded and political parties were now expected to submit the names of their candidates before the July 11 deadline.
Haruna explained that while the commission would comply with whatever decision the courts eventually deliver, preparations would continue according to the existing timetable.
He expressed confidence that the judiciary would issue its judgments early enough to avoid constitutional complications.
According to him, once the commission receives any judgment, it will study the ruling before deciding on the appropriate course of action.
He stressed that INEC would continue implementing its timetable unless directed otherwise by the courts.
Political scientists caution against delays
Political analysts also warned that unresolved legal disputes involving INEC could create uncertainty and undermine confidence in preparations for the 2027 elections.
A Professor of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, Gbade Ojo, described the situation as a genuine concern, arguing that political actors, rather than INEC, have created many of the current challenges.
He blamed the internal crises within political parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, and what he described as the absence of political ideology among Nigerian politicians.
According to him, INEC can do little until the courts resolve the pending disputes.
Ojo also expressed concern that, apart from the All Progressives Congress, many political parties appeared insufficiently prepared for the 2027 elections.
Similarly, political activist and academic at Lagos State University, Oluwafemi Obayori, stressed that all election-related cases should be resolved before the polls.
He argued that the pending suits affect the very foundation of Nigeria's electoral process and should not remain unresolved as the country moves closer to the elections.
Obayori added that prolonged legal uncertainty could weaken public confidence in the electoral commission and complicate preparations.
He also questioned the timing of some of the legal challenges, particularly those concerning political party registration, while insisting that compliance with the Electoral Act must always take precedence over political interests.
According to him, it is ultimately the responsibility of the courts to interpret the law and settle all outstanding disputes before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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