2027: Court dismisses suit seeking registration of new political party

The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit by Chief Mrs Chinasa Nwekeke, interim national chair of the Wisdom Party association, seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the claim lacked merit and that the case had become academic. Nwekeke challenged, among other things, administrative fees under the Electoral Act 2022 and argued that INEC’s failure to respond to her letter of intent amounted to no objection. INEC said the letter did not include a party symbol and that the election timetable left insufficient time to complete the required steps.