“The Court’s ruling opens the door to the desertion of offended politicians”

Mr Precious Nwadimuya, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Asaba, Delta State, has lauded the ruling of the Federal High Court limiting the powers of INEC over the activities of political parties.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday invalidated the deadlines issued by INEC for the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, in his ruling, annulled the May 10 deadline set by INEC, which requires political parties to submit a register and database of all their members as a condition of being able to participate in the general elections.

Umar held that the time period imposed by the commission on political parties to conduct primaries and to submit, withdraw or replace names and details of their candidates for the general elections “is not consistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026”.

Nwadimuya said in Asaba on Friday that the ruling offered new opportunities to aspirants aggrieved and dissatisfied with the recently concluded party primaries.

According to Nwadimuya, affected politicians now have more time to seek remedies 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.

Nwadimuya, also a member of the General Council of Lawyers, added that parties can now admit aggrieved politicians, especially office holders who have been denied tickets by major political parties.

In reaction, lawyer Raymos Guanah also said that the ruling has far-reaching political and electoral implications ahead of the 2027 elections.

Guanah, a former commissioner for lands and polls in Delta state, said political parties can now change candidates up to 60 days before elections, as permitted by electoral law.

He said the ruling extended the period within which parties must submit their membership registers to INEC.

According to him, the ruling leaves room for politicians to change parties and continue to participate in new primary trials.

He added that INEC cannot set timelines for party primaries, but only monitor the exercises as required by law.

Guanah, however, argued that the ruling does not invalidate the primaries already conducted by the political parties.

He said parties satisfied with their primaries could keep their candidates despite the court ruling.

According to him, the ruling simply gives political parties the opportunity to make changes where necessary.

Guanah noted that the ruling does not resolve grievances arising from the primaries recently conducted by the APC.

He also said opposition parties now have enough time to form alliances and strengthen strategies.