Breaking: Court Delivers Verdict on Candidates Seeking Defection
- The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment in a suit that sought to stop INEC from restricting politicians from defecting to another party after primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections
- Justice Mohammed Umar of the trial court gave the ruling on Wednesday, May 20, amid unfolding party primary dynamics across the country
- The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, was filed by the Youth Party, with INEC as the sole defendant
There is renewed hope for politicians who lost in the recent primaries conducted by political parties, as the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the revised timetable and schedule of activities released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in his ruling on Wednesday, May 20, held that the time frame set by the electoral body for political parties to conduct primaries, as well as to submit, withdraw, and replace the names of candidates in the 2027 general elections, was "inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026”; and consequently set it aside.
Source: Twitter
This Day reported that the judgment was on the ruling over the suit filed to challenge INEC's time frame for the conduct of the 2027 general election, which prevented individuals who lost in primary elections from moving to another party and contesting for the same positions.
A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling confirmed that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, was filed by the Youth Party, naming INEC as the sole defendant.
Reactions trail court ruling over defection after primaries
However, the report of the ruling has sparked widespread reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
Ezeh Victor criticised the justice system in Nigeria:
"There is no justice. They only failed their target, "Peter Obi" and decided to void the law. There's no justice in Nigeria under the APC. The judges who got Lands and Houses from Wike/APC cannot give you justice."
Source: Twitter
Dumebi Donald said the law stabilised our political system:
"To me, that law is fine and good for our current political games. I would support that law any day, any time, as it helps stabilise our political system. Those who lost and feel it happens through irregularities, manipulations, and unlawfully should stay and fight for such abnormalities, rather than run to another party or platform to seek solace. To me, it is politically deficient as it creates vacuums for personalisation (e.g godfatherism), and weakness in internal party practices. No one should be qualified to contest in another primary if s/he has participated in one already within the same political/electoral year."
Attama Raphael explained what should be done:
"I will only applaud this if it were those who haven't context for primary in another political party, but if you have contested for primary, the law should prohibit such a person from running in another political party."
Woyibo criticised the ruling:
"So now political parties are just Uber rides, enter anytime, drop off anytime, no destination required."
Read more reactions on X below:
APC constitutes the presidential primary election committee
Legit.ng earlier reported that the APC announced the constitution of its presidential primary election committee just as it was rounding up with its governorship primaries.
Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate president between 2000 and 2003, also served as the SGF under former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration, was appointed chairman of the committee.
Another former Senate president and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives were members of the committee, while Siminalayi Fubara and other APC governors were appointed state coordinators.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
