The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reinstated the INEC electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections after overturning a Federal High Court judgment that had nullified portions of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulations. In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, the appellate court held that the Youth Party, which challenged the guidelines at the lower court, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) required to institute the suit.
The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, ruled that the political party failed to demonstrate how the electoral guidelines adversely affected either its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 elections. According to the court, the Youth Party did not establish any injury or infringement of its rights that would justify judicial intervention.
The three-member panel further held that the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court on May 20, 2026, was erroneous and resulted in a miscarriage of justice. The appellate court therefore set aside the lower court’s ruling, effectively restoring the validity of the INEC electoral guidelines governing preparations for the 2027 general elections.
In the earlier judgment, the Federal High Court had ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory authority to compel political parties to conduct their primary elections within timelines fixed by the electoral commission. The court also invalidated portions of INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines stipulated under the Electoral Act. Justice Umar had held that the commission could not lawfully shorten or alter timelines expressly provided by the law.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, INEC approached the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Federal High Court failed to determine its preliminary objection before deciding the substantive case. Represented by counsel Dr. Alex Izinyom, the commission contended that the suit filed by the Youth Party was hypothetical and academic, and that the trial court’s failure to address this objection amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
The Court of Appeal agreed with INEC’s submissions, upheld the appeal and vacated the judgment of the Federal High Court. With the ruling, the commission’s electoral guidelines remain in force, allowing INEC to continue implementing its framework for the conduct of political party primaries and other preparatory activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
