Political parties across Nigeria are facing increasing uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections as legal battles, rerun primaries, and internal factional disputes continue to cast doubt on the validity of candidates produced outside the timetable approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The development follows a warning by INEC that candidates emerging from primaries conducted after the commission’s May 30 deadline could be rejected unless the Court of Appeal overturns an earlier Federal High Court ruling.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stated that any primary election conducted outside the approved timeframe would remain invalid pending the outcome of the appeal.
The electoral commission is currently challenging a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which held that INEC exceeded its authority under the Electoral Act 2026 by imposing aspects of its election timetable.
Although some political parties welcomed the ruling, many still rushed to comply with INEC’s schedule amid concerns that a successful appeal could invalidate candidates produced through delayed or repeated primaries.
The uncertainty has particularly affected the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State after the party’s appeals committee ordered rerun primaries in several constituencies over allegations of exclusion and procedural irregularities.
The committee, chaired by Muhammed Fagge, directed fresh primaries in Ikara/Kubau, Kaduna South, and other state constituencies — a decision analysts say may create further legal complications if conducted outside INEC’s deadline.
The ADC is also grappling with an escalating internal leadership crisis. One faction led by Abdulkadir Mohammed Bashir reportedly adopted Dumebi Kachikwu as its consensus presidential candidate, while another faction under David Mark produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
Additional controversy emerged after former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen criticised the conduct of the ADC presidential primary, alleging irregularities and voter disenfranchisement. However, party insiders said neither aspirant formally pursued an appeal through the party’s internal review process.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned a separate suit seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the ADC, Accord Party, and Action Alliance, after the Accord Party obtained a stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that some political parties failed to satisfy constitutional electoral requirements.
At the same time, internal tensions are also emerging within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where allegations of candidate imposition and manipulation have trailed recent primaries.
Former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa openly expressed regret over defecting from the APC to the NDC, alleging that he was denied a senatorial ticket despite supposedly winning the primary election.
In response, NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Osadolor rejected the claims, insisting that the party conducted transparent and inclusive primaries while also establishing reconciliation mechanisms for aggrieved aspirants.
Political analysts warn that the growing uncertainty surrounding INEC’s timetable, coupled with internal party disputes and ongoing litigation, could usher in another wave of prolonged pre-election legal battles capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.
