Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has applauded the Federal High Court in Abuja for striking down parts of the 2027 election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the decision as a strong defence of constitutional governance and the rule of law.
Hashim praised Justice M. G. Umar for what he called a bold and principled judgment that curbed administrative excesses and reaffirmed the supremacy of the Electoral Act 2026.
The ruling, delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 between the Youth Party and INEC, held that the electoral commission exceeded its legal authority by imposing restrictive deadlines on political parties regarding primaries and other pre-election processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the judgment, Hashim said he had consistently maintained that INEC must operate strictly within the limits of the law. He recalled that he had previously written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cautioning against policies that could undermine the Electoral Act.
He said the court ruling had validated his earlier concerns, adding that it was necessary to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process.
Hashim further commended Justice Umar for upholding justice, stressing that the judgment would strengthen public confidence in electoral institutions and reinforce the rule of law.
According to details of the ruling, the court declared that INEC does not have the statutory power to set timelines for party primaries or to alter provisions relating to nomination, withdrawal, substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists, and campaign periods.
The court consequently nullified the affected sections of INEC’s Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections, declaring them inconsistent with the Electoral Act 2026.
Hashim urged INEC to comply fully with the judgment and ensure that future electoral guidelines strictly align with the law.
However, at the time of filing this report, the certified true copy of the judgment had not yet been released publicly, and INEC had not issued an official response.
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