The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the commission’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
INEC also filed a motion seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal.
The appeal, dated May 25 and filed by the commission’s counsel, Mr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), contests the ruling delivered on May 20 by Justice Mohammed Umar in a suit instituted by the Youth Party (YP).
Justice Umar had voided the revised 2027 election timetable issued by INEC, ruling that the commission lacked the statutory powers to prescribe timelines for political parties to conduct primaries and other pre-election activities.
The court held that the timetable imposed restrictive deadlines on political parties in violation of provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, INEC argued before the appellate court that the trial court erred in law and failed to properly interpret relevant sections of the Electoral Act.
The commission raised nine grounds of appeal, insisting that the judge failed to address critical jurisdictional issues, including whether the suit filed by the Youth Party was hypothetical and academic in nature.
According to INEC, the omission amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
The electoral body further argued that the trial court adopted a narrow interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, while also failing to apply the provisions of Section 151 of the Act.
INEC urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment and strike out the suit filed by the Youth Party, maintaining that the party lacked the legal standing to institute the action.
In a related application before the Federal High Court, the commission also requested an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal process.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), INEC argued that granting the stay was necessary to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and prevent disruptions to preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The legal battle has continued to attract widespread attention within political and legal circles, with stakeholders closely monitoring its implications for the electoral process and preparations ahead of the 2027 polls.
