Reported by: Ijeoma .G | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot impose administrative guidelines that contradict the Nigerian Constitution, following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified INEC’s deadline requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.
IPAC made the position known on Friday, May 23, 2026, while reacting to the court ruling, describing the decision as a victory for democracy, due process, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The judgment, delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, reportedly set aside INEC’s directive that political parties must submit updated membership registers within a specified timeline, a requirement that had generated controversy among political stakeholders.
INEC had earlier issued the guideline as part of its regulatory framework for monitoring internal party structures ahead of future electoral activities, arguing that access to accurate membership data was necessary for credible elections and improved party accountability.
However, political parties under the umbrella of IPAC challenged the directive, arguing that INEC had exceeded its constitutional powers by attempting to enforce requirements not explicitly provided for under the Nigerian Constitution or the Electoral Act.
Reacting to the judgment, IPAC leadership, through its national officials, said the court had reaffirmed the supremacy of the Constitution over administrative rules issued by regulatory agencies, stressing that INEC must operate strictly within the limits of its legal authority.
The council noted that while INEC plays a central role in election management, its guidelines and regulations must align with existing laws passed by the National Assembly and cannot introduce obligations that impose additional burdens on political parties outside the law.
IPAC also described the ruling as a major win for political parties in Nigeria, stating that it reinforces the principle that electoral bodies must not act in ways that could be interpreted as overreach or interference in internal party administration.
The Federal High Court decision is expected to have implications for how INEC enforces compliance measures among political parties, particularly in areas relating to membership data management, party registration processes, and pre-election administrative requirements.
INEC, led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has in recent years introduced several reforms aimed at improving transparency, including digital voter registration systems, electronic result transmission frameworks, and tighter party compliance monitoring mechanisms.
Political parties, however, have occasionally pushed back against some of these measures, arguing that they must be grounded strictly in constitutional and statutory provisions to avoid legal disputes and administrative conflicts.
IPAC reiterated its call for continuous engagement between INEC and political stakeholders to ensure that electoral reforms are implemented through consensus and within the framework of existing laws.
As of Friday evening, May 23, 2026, INEC had not issued a detailed public response to the Federal High Court ruling, but officials are expected to review the judgment before determining whether to appeal or adjust its regulatory guidelines accordingly.
The development adds to ongoing legal and institutional debates over the extent of INEC’s regulatory powers in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly as political activities gradually build toward the next general election cycle.
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