The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated key provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s guidelines for the 2027 general elections, restoring the electoral body’s regulations.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the three-member appellate panel held that the Youth Party, which challenged the guidelines, lacked the legal standing to institute the suit because it failed to demonstrate how the disputed provisions affected its interests.
The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and delivered by Justice Okon Abang, ruled that the party did not establish that the guidelines interfered with its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 elections.
The court held that the Youth Party failed to show any injury arising from the guidelines that would justify bringing the action before the court.
The appellate court also faulted the earlier decision of Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, describing it as a miscarriage of justice.
Justice Umar had, on May 20, 2026, ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines set by the commission.
The trial court also nullified provisions in INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines stipulated in the Electoral Act, holding that the commission could not lawfully shorten timelines prescribed by law.
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, thereby denying the commission a fair hearing.
The Court of Appeal agreed with INEC, upheld the commission’s appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court.
The ruling effectively restores the validity of INEC’s electoral guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.