The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reinstated the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, overturning an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified key aspects of the electoral timetable.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the Federal High Court erred in law by invalidating the guidelines, describing the decision as one that occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, also ruled that the Youth Party lacked the legal standing to institute the suit challenging the electoral guidelines.
According to the court, the party failed to demonstrate how the guidelines adversely affected its conduct of primary elections or the submission of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Banjoko held that the Youth Party did not establish any injury suffered by either the party or its members as a result of the guidelines issued by INEC.
The appellate court consequently set aside the May 20 judgment of Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had nullified portions of the commission’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations.
The Appeal Court agreed unanimously that the lower court committed fundamental errors in reaching its decision.
The Federal High Court had ruled that INEC’s timetable for political parties to conduct primaries and submit, withdraw or replace candidates was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
It also invalidated the commission’s May 10 deadline directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases as a prerequisite for participation in the 2027 elections.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, INEC filed an appeal on May 25 through its lead counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), urging the appellate court to reverse the decision.
The electoral commission argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain what it described as a hypothetical and academic suit and further alleged that it was denied fair hearing during the proceedings.
INEC also challenged the lower court’s failure to determine the issue of jurisdiction before deciding the substantive case.
The commission raised nine grounds of appeal and sought an order setting aside the judgment, as well as a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
With Thursday’s verdict, the Court of Appeal has restored the electoral guidelines issued by INEC, clearing the way for their implementation ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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