BREAKING: Appeal Court Sets Aside Judgment Nullifying INEC’s 2027 Election Guidelines

• The Court of Appeal has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that nullified parts of INEC’s 2027 election guidelines.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that nullified parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court held that the Youth Party, which challenged the guidelines, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit.

The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, held that the party failed to show how the guidelines affected either its primary election or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 polls.

Court faults High Court ruling

The three-member panel ruled that the Federal High Court erred when it nullified parts of INEC’s guidelines on May 20, describing the decision as one that resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar had earlier ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional powers to compel political parties to conduct primaries within timelines set by the commission.

The trial court also invalidated portions of INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the timelines stipulated in the Electoral Act.

INEC’s appeal succeeds

Dissatisfied with the ruling, INEC appealed the judgment, arguing that the Federal High Court failed to determine its preliminary objection that the suit was hypothetical and academic.

The commission also contended that it was denied a fair hearing.

The Court of Appeal agreed with INEC, set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment, and restored the validity of the commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.