INEC seeks to overturn court nullification of 2027 election timetable, gives reasons

Following the recent nullification of the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections by the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the judgment.

The commission also filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal.

In the notice of appeal dated May 25 and filed through its lead counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, INEC raised nine grounds challenging the May 20 judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit instituted by the Youth Party (YP).

INEC argued that the trial court erred in law by failing to determine the jurisdictional objection it raised that the suit was hypothetical and academic, a development it said amounted to a denial of fair hearing.

The commission further faulted the court’s interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, insisting that the law did not preclude it from issuing timelines and schedules to guide political parties in the conduct of primaries and other pre-election activities.

According to INEC, the lower court wrongly held that the electoral body lacked statutory powers to prescribe timeframes for political parties to conduct primaries for the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.

The commission also contended that the trial judge failed to apply the provisions of Section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2026 to the matter.

Consequently, INEC urged the appellate court to allow the appeal, set aside the judgment and strike out the suit filed by the Youth Party on the grounds that the party lacked the locus standi to institute and maintain the action.

Earlier, Justice Umar ruled that INEC’s revised timetable imposed restrictive deadlines on political parties contrary to the Electoral Act, 2026, and declared that the commission had no legal authority to fix timelines for party primaries beyond what is provided in the law.

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