Court of Appeal Reverses Ruling Nullifying INEC’s 2027 Election Guidelines
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday overturned a Federal High Court decision that had invalidated key parts of the commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous ruling, the appellate court decided that the Youth Party, the plaintiff in the original case, did not have the necessary legal standing to challenge the guidelines.
Justice Adebukola Banjoko’s lead judgment, read by Justice Okon Abang, highlighted that the party failed to show any specific injury or direct effect on its operations, especially regarding the conduct of primaries or the submission of candidate names.
The Court of Appeal also found that the Federal High Court, with Justice Mohammed Garba Umar presiding, was wrong in its decision on May 20, 2026. That ruling had nullified parts of INEC’s timetable, including deadlines for party primaries and early submission of membership registers and candidate details, because they conflicted with the Electoral Act.
INEC strongly opposed the lower court’s ruling, arguing through its counsel that it amounted to a miscarriage of justice and that the commission was denied a fair hearing on its preliminary objections.
By overturning the Federal High Court’s judgment, the Court of Appeal has effectively reinstated INEC’s electoral guidelines and timetable for the 2027 elections.
