INEC Appeals Court Ruling on 2027 Election Guidelines

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court to reverse a judgment issued by Justice Muham Umar of the Federal High Court, which nullified certain aspects of INEC's guidelines for the 2027 general elections. The trial court's ruling, delivered last week, invalidated the revised timeline that required political parties to submit their membership registration databases by May 10, 2023, to participate in the elections.

The court found that INEC unlawfully shortened the timeline established by Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. INEC's legal team, led by Chief Alex Izinyon SAN, argues that the trial court erred in its judgment and failed to recognize its jurisdiction.

The commission contends that the statutory periods prescribed cannot be abridged and has filed a motion to stay the execution of the trial court's judgment pending the appeal's determination.