Appeal Court Upholds INEC's 2027 Election Guidelines

On May 20, 2023, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court unanimously overturned a Federal High Court ruling that had nullified parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) guidelines and timetable for the 2027 general elections. The trial court had ruled that INEC's guidelines violated the 1991 Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2026.

Justice Moham Umar delivered the judgment, stating that the trial court was incorrect in its decision. The Appeal Court found that INEC has the authority to conduct elections and that the guidelines did not infringe upon the law.

The case was brought by the Youth Party, which filed the suit on March 11, 2016, seeking various reliefs regarding the interpretation of the Electoral Act. The Appeal Court also noted that the Youth Party lacked legal standing to challenge the guidelines, as they failed to demonstrate how the guidelines affected their nomination process for candidates in the upcoming elections.