2027: Massive Defection Set to Hit APC as Court Voids INEC Deadline, Extends Party Membership Register Submission Till September 2026

 

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has nullified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The judgement, delivered on Thursday by Justice M.G. Umar in a suit filed by the Youth Party, ordered INEC to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that political parties have up to 120 days before an election to submit the personal particulars of their candidates.

According to the court, INEC lacked the legal authority to shorten the statutory timeline provided by the Electoral Act through administrative guidelines

“A Declaration is made that having regards to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days to an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its 2027 elections,” the judgement stated.

With the ruling, all registered political parties now have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers and databases to the electoral commission, effectively voiding the earlier May 10 deadline.

The development is expected to significantly reshape political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where internal disputes and growing tensions have fuelled speculations of possible defections by aggrieved politicians.

Political observers believe the judgement has created a fresh legal window for politicians who lost party primaries or are dissatisfied with developments within their parties to defect and pursue their ambitions under alternative political platforms.

The ruling is also expected to intensify ongoing coalition talks among opposition figures and discontented members of the APC ahead of the next electoral cycle.

INEC had earlier fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

As of the time of filing this report, INEC had yet to officially react to the judgement.