A Federal High Court ruling that struck down key portions of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) revised 2027 election timetable has triggered mounting pressure on the electoral body to immediately revise its schedule, with opposition parties warning that any appeal could deepen uncertainty ahead of the polls.

The latest development came as the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and several other parties urged INEC to comply with the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, which nullified deadlines imposed on political parties for primaries, candidate substitutions and campaign activities.

In the ruling, the court specifically set aside INEC’s May 10 deadline requiring parties to submit membership registers and databases as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections, holding that several aspects of the commission’s timetable conflicted with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Justice Umar ruled that INEC lacked the statutory authority to shorten timelines already guaranteed under the Electoral Act, including the 120-day deadline for submission of candidates’ particulars, the 90-day window for withdrawal or substitution of candidates and the legally prescribed campaign period.

The judgment followed a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP), which argued that the electoral commission exceeded its legal powers by imposing restrictive deadlines outside the framework established by the Electoral Act 2026.

Reacting to the ruling, CUPP Acting National Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, described the decision as “progressive and constitution-aligned,” and called on INEC to immediately amend its election timetable. He warned that pursuing an appeal could “create unnecessary uncertainty, erode public confidence and undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.”

Ameh disclosed that at least 14 political parties were already considering extending their internal primary schedules to accommodate new defectors and broaden participation in candidate selection processes following the court’s decision.

Former presidential candidate Gbenga Hashim also welcomed the ruling, saying it vindicated his long-standing criticism that INEC had overstepped its powers under the Electoral Act. Hashim said he had previously warned that the commission must operate “strictly within the confines of the law,” adding that the judgment reinforced the supremacy of statutory provisions over administrative directives.

The court further declared that INEC could not lawfully publish the final list of candidates earlier than the 60-day minimum period prescribed by law and lacked the authority to mandate that campaigns end two days before elections.

With the Certified True Copy of the judgment now released, attention is expected to shift to INEC’s next move and whether the commission will revise its controversial timetable or challenge the ruling on appeal as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.