The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and several other political parties have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with a recent Federal High Court judgment and immediately revise its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The appeal follows a ruling delivered by Justice M.G. Umar on Thursday, which political parties say has significantly altered aspects of the electoral process and expanded democratic participation within party structures.
In a joint position, the parties commended the judgment, describing it as progressive and aligned with constitutional provisions, while urging INEC to align its revised electoral calendar with the court’s directives.
Key aspects of the judgment include the recognition of the rights of aspirants who lose party primaries to defect and be substituted by another political party, the nullification of the 21-day party membership register requirement, and the exemption of substitution primaries from strict electoral timelines. The ruling also affirmed that INEC lacks the authority to impose specific dates on internal party activities or unilaterally shorten submission and publication deadlines.
Speaking on behalf of CUPP, Acting National Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, said INEC must act swiftly to implement the judgment, warning that failure to do so could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“We commend the Federal High Court for this progressive and constitution-aligned judgment. INEC must immediately obey this ruling and adjust its timetable accordingly,” Ameh said.
He added that any move to appeal the judgment would create unnecessary uncertainty ahead of the 2027 elections.
Chief Ameh further disclosed that 14 political parties have resolved to extend their internal election schedules to accommodate new entrants and ensure a more inclusive nomination process in line with the court’s decision.
According to the parties, the ruling strengthens internal democracy, reinforces party autonomy, and protects the rights of aspirants and candidates.
They urged INEC to collaborate with political parties in developing a revised and realistic timetable that reflects the court’s decision and supports credible elections.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections in 2027, stating that they would continue to pursue democratic reforms through lawful and constitutional means.
