Conflicting Court Rulings On INEC’s Primary Timelines Threaten Electoral Confidence — IPAC

The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, has expressed concern over conflicting court rulings affecting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) authority to regulate and set timelines for party primaries, warning that the development could weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.

Dantalle spoke on Tuesday at INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, the conflicting judicial decisions have created uncertainty among political parties and candidates at a critical stage of the electoral cycle.

He explained that while one court ruling nullified aspects of INEC’s timetable relating to party primaries, another later affirmed the commission’s powers in the same area.

Although INEC has appealed the earlier judgment, Dantalle said the existence of conflicting decisions on such a critical electoral issue risks creating confusion and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.

Beyond the court cases, the IPAC chairman renewed calls for a review of the Electoral Act 2026, saying political parties encountered major challenges during the recently concluded nomination exercise for the 2027 elections.

He specifically pointed to Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act, which restricts parties to either consensus or direct primaries and removes the option of indirect primaries.
According to him, the provision placed considerable pressure on political parties and affected the emergence of candidates across different levels.

Dantalle said many parties eventually adopted consensus arrangements even where several aspirants had purchased nomination forms.

He noted that in some cases, aspirants were persuaded to step down after preferred candidates had been identified by party leaders.

While some accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity, others challenged the process in court, insisting that consensus should only apply where contestants freely agree.

He said the resulting disputes contributed to unnecessary tension and uncertainty within the political space.

The IPAC chairman also described direct primaries as financially and logistically demanding, especially for parties with limited resources.

According to him, the pressure created by the current framework compelled some parties to adopt measures aimed at avoiding situations that could trigger direct primaries.

These measures, he said, included restricting access to nomination forms and delaying announcements of congresses and primary election schedules.

Dantalle also raised concerns over the requirement for political parties to submit updated membership registers containing National Identification Numbers (NIN) within a limited period.

While acknowledging that the measure was intended to improve the credibility of party membership records, he argued that many genuine members were excluded due to logistical and time constraints.

He recalled that IPAC had earlier warned about some of these challenges during its general assembly held in Abuja on February 26, 2026, where the council urged the National Assembly to reconsider provisions eliminating indirect primaries.

According to him, political parties should retain some flexibility in choosing candidate nomination methods, provided the process remains democratic and transparent.

He said recent developments surrounding party primaries had reinforced concerns earlier raised by the council.

Dantalle therefore called on the National Assembly and other stakeholders to review the Electoral Act 2026 and address gaps exposed during the nomination process.

Looking ahead to the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2027 general election, he urged political actors to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid violence, intimidation and hate speech.

The council also condemned recent reports of political violence in Osun State and called on security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality throughout the electoral process.

Dantalle further urged INEC to uphold transparency, fairness and accountability in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

He reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to working with INEC, the National Assembly, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to strengthen electoral integrity and deepen democratic governance in Nigeria.