Conflicting Court Rulings on INEC's Electoral Guidelines

On May 20, 2026, a three-member panel of the Abuja Court of Appeal upheld a previous ruling by the Federal High Court that nullified parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) guidelines for the 2027 general elections. The court ruled that the trial court was incorrect in nullifying the guidelines, stating they did not violate the 1999 Constitution or the Electoral Act.

Conversely, another three-member panel of the Appeal Court struck down sections of the Electoral Act 2026, declaring them inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution. Justice Moham Umar delivered the judgment in favor of the Youth Party, which had filed the suit on March 11, 2016, seeking to clarify INEC's powers regarding the conduct of primary elections.

The conflicting judgments highlight the legal complexities surrounding INEC's authority and the electoral process in Nigeria.