The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission to implement its guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court set aside an earlier decision of the Federal High Court that had nullified part of the guidelines.
The lower court had, on May 20, barred the implementation of sections of the INEC guidelines after ruling in favour of the Youth Party.
However, the Court of Appeal held that the trial court was wrong to interfere with INEC’s administrative discretion.
Justice Okon Abang delivered the lead judgment, which was prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko.
The appellate court said the law empowers INEC to conduct elections in Nigeria and to issue administrative guidelines within the limits of its constitutional and statutory authority.
The court also held that the Youth Party lacked the legal standing to file the suit against INEC.
According to the panel, the party did not show that it had suffered any injury or that its ability to participate in the election had been threatened.
The court said there was no evidence that the Youth Party was prevented from conducting its primaries or nominating candidates for the 2027 elections.
It held that a political party could only approach the court where there was a real and substantial threat to its participation in an election.
The appellate court further ruled that where INEC acts within its legal powers, courts should not interfere unnecessarily.
It therefore set aside the declaratory reliefs granted by the Federal High Court.
Justice Banjoko held that the Youth Party failed to explain how the guidelines affected the party or its members in the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.
The three-member panel agreed that the trial court erred when it nullified the guidelines on the ground that they violated provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court said the error resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
INEC had appealed the Federal High Court judgment, arguing that the lower court was wrong in law.
The electoral commission also argued that the suit filed by the Youth Party was hypothetical and academic.
INEC, through its lead counsel, Alex Izinyon, asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment and restore the disputed guidelines.
The case began after the Youth Party challenged INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10.
The commission had said the submission was part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 general elections.
The Federal High Court had ruled that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, INEC filed an appeal dated May 25.
The commission argued that the trial court failed to properly consider its objection that the case was academic and that the proceedings amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
INEC also maintained that the judgment was against the weight of evidence before the court.
The Court of Appeal agreed with INEC’s position, allowed the appeal and struck out the Youth Party’s suit.
The decision restores INEC’s 2027 election guidelines and clears the way for the commission to proceed with preparations for the general elections.
