The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general election, setting aside an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified the electoral framework.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court overturned the May 20, 2026 decision of the Federal High Court, which had invalidated the guidelines and restrained INEC from implementing them.
The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, held that the Youth Party (YP), which instituted the suit against INEC, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the guidelines.
The court ruled that the party failed to show how the guidelines adversely affected its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 general election.
Justice Banjoko held that the Youth Party did not establish any legal injury arising from the implementation of the guidelines, making the suit incompetent.
The three-member panel further ruled that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, fell into serious legal errors by nullifying the guidelines on the grounds that they violated provisions of the Electoral Act.
According to the appellate court, the decision resulted in a miscarriage of justice and could not be allowed to stand.
INEC had appealed the judgment, arguing through its lead counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), that the lower court failed to determine critical jurisdictional issues, including whether the suit was merely hypothetical and academic.
The electoral body also contended that it was denied fair hearing before the Federal High Court delivered its judgment.
The Court of Appeal agreed with INEC’s submissions and allowed the appeal, thereby restoring the commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general election.
The Federal High Court had earlier ruled in favour of the Youth Party after the party challenged the election timetable and guidelines, alleging that INEC imposed restrictive timelines for party primaries and other pre-election activities contrary to the Electoral Act, 2026.
However, Thursday’s judgment effectively clears the way for INEC to implement its guidelines as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.
