Appeal Court Restores INEC Guidelines For 2027 General Elections

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated key provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections. The appellate court in a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, held that the Youth Party, which instituted the suit against the electoral guidelines, lacked the legal standing to challenge them. Related News * INEC makes U-turn, extends 2027 candidate submission deadline * 2027: No deadline extension for presidential, N’Assembly candidates – INEC * CVR: INEC issues alert on fake online registration website The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and delivered by Justice Okon Abang, held that the party failed to show how the disputed guidelines affected either its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 elections. The court stated that the Youth Party did not establish any injury arising from the guidelines that would justify bringing the action before the court. The three-member panel also faulted the earlier decision of Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, who on 20 May declared parts of the guidelines invalid for allegedly conflicting with provisions of the Electoral Act. According to the appellate court, that ruling amounted to a miscarriage of justice. Justice Umar had ruled that INEC had neither constitutional nor statutory authority to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines set by the commission. The trial court also struck down provisions of the commission’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines contained in the Electoral Act, holding that INEC could not lawfully shorten statutory timelines. INEC challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal arguing that the trial court failed to determine its preliminary objection that the case was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying it a fair hearing. The Court of Appeal agreed with the commission, allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court. The decision restores the validity of INEC’s electoral guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

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