ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has legally compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the Grassroot Initiative Party (GRIP) to complete its registration process, granting the political association a critical opportunity to formalize its status ahead of upcoming elections.
Presiding over the matter on Thursday, Justice Binta Nyako directed INEC to reopen its registration portal for a period of 27 days, effective from March 26, 2026. The ruling comes after the court found that the commission’s earlier actions violated its own established guidelines for political party registration.
The dispute arose when INEC deactivated GRIP’s registration portal only three days after issuing the party an access code, despite the rules stipulating that such codes remain valid for 30 days. Justice Nyako noted that the early closure effectively prevented the association from completing its registration, even though GRIP had paid the required ₦2 million administrative fee.
“I hereby order that the defendant (INEC) should open its portal for 27 days from today for the plaintiffs to complete its registration,” the judge declared during the ruling, emphasizing the commission’s breach of the “Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.”
During the proceedings, INEC’s legal team contended that the suit was incompetent and statute-barred, arguing that GRIP failed to file the case within the mandatory 14-day window following the portal’s closure. However, Justice Nyako dismissed these arguments, citing the commission’s failure to provide formal notification of the portal’s early deactivation. The judge ruled that, without official communication, the applicants could not be reasonably expected to respond in the prescribed timeframe.
The legal action was filed by Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie and Mohammed Abas Kuti on behalf of GRIP members, with their counsel, Jideofor Ukachukwu, initiating the suit on December 24, 2025. The petition sought judicial clarification on whether INEC’s October 19, 2025, portal closure was lawful.
The court’s decision represents a significant victory for GRIP, enabling the party to finalize its registration and participate in Nigeria’s political landscape. Justice Nyako’s ruling underscores the importance of procedural fairness and transparency in the electoral process, particularly regarding access to digital platforms used by political aspirants.
While GRIP prevailed, the court dismissed similar suits from two other political associations. The Green Future Party (GFP) lost in case FHC/ABJ/CS/2791/2025 after Justice Nyako ruled that the applicants had not satisfied the fundamental constitutional requirements for party registration. Similarly, the Liberation People’s Party (LPP) was denied relief in case FHC/ABJ/CS/46/2026. Although LPP’s access code remained valid when the portal was deactivated, the court held that the party’s internal actions undermined its legal standing, rendering it ineligible for registration.
The ruling highlights the judiciary’s role in upholding electoral laws and ensuring that political aspirants are treated fairly under existing guidelines. By granting GRIP portal access for 27 days, the court has provided the party with a legally sanctioned window to complete its documentation, a critical step in ensuring compliance with INEC’s requirements.
Political analysts have noted that the decision may have broader implications for INEC’s management of its digital registration platforms, signaling increased scrutiny of the commission’s adherence to established rules. Observers argue that the ruling reinforces the principle that electoral processes must be transparent and accessible to all qualified parties.
For GRIP, the court’s intervention is a lifeline, ensuring that administrative setbacks do not prevent the association from joining Nigeria’s formal political arena. The party now has the opportunity to complete its registration process within the judicially mandated timeframe, while INEC is legally obligated to comply with the court’s directive.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s political registration system, including the reliance on digital portals, adherence to procedural timelines, and the need for effective communication between electoral authorities and applicants. Justice Nyako’s ruling serves as a reminder that deviations from established procedures can prompt legal recourse and judicial correction, reinforcing accountability within the electoral framework.
