NEWS
INEC Moves to Overturn Court Judgment on 2027 Election Guidelines
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the recent judgement of the Federal High Court which nullified part of the commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general election.
The legal battle follows a judgement delivered last week by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the court invalidated INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases on or before May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the forthcoming 2027 general election.
The suit had been instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged the legality and constitutional validity of the electoral body’s directive. The party argued that INEC lacked the authority to alter or shorten timelines already provided by law for political parties ahead of elections.
Delivering judgement in the matter, the Federal High Court held that the electoral commission could not lawfully abridge the timeframe stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
The court maintained that statutory provisions contained in the Electoral Act must prevail over administrative guidelines issued by the commission, stressing that INEC’s directive was inconsistent with the law and therefore invalid.
However, determined to defend its electoral framework ahead of the 2027 polls, INEC has now taken the matter before the appellate court.
In the notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, and filed through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, the commission urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement of the lower court in its entirety.
The electoral umpire also requested an order staying the execution of the judgement pending the determination of the appeal, a move that signals INEC’s resolve to preserve its administrative guidelines while the legal dispute continues.
The development has further heightened attention on preparations for the 2027 general election, as political parties and stakeholders closely monitor the legal interpretations surrounding the Electoral Act and the powers of the nation’s electoral commission.