The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which voided part of the commission’s guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
INEC approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the High Court judgment that altered the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers ahead of the elections.
Recall that Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja had last week invalidated INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as a prerequisite for participation in the 2027 polls.
The judgment followed a lawsuit filed by the Youth Party, which questioned the legality of the commission’s guidelines.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC lacked the authority to reduce the timeline already stipulated in the Electoral Act 2026.
The court maintained that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act allows political parties up to 120 days before an election to submit the particulars of their candidates, adding that INEC could not impose an earlier deadline through administrative guidelines.
However, in a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, and filed through its counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN), INEC asked the appellate court to nullify the lower court’s judgment.
The electoral commission also requested an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.