Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed a Federal High Court judgement that barred it from imposing timelines shorter than those stipulated in the Electoral Act for the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body, through its counsel Alex Izinyon, filed the appeal at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday, seeking to nullify last Thursday’s ruling.
Justice Muhammed Umar had ruled in favour of the Youth Party, declaring that INEC cannot lawfully abridge the 120-day pre-election deadline prescribed by Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of candidates’ particulars.
“A Declaration is made that having regards to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days to an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its 2027 elections,” the lower court stated.
INEC’s controversial guidelines had required political parties to submit a register and database of all members by May 10 to be eligible to field candidates. The court described this as a contravention of the Electoral Act.
The appeal underscores the ongoing tension between the electoral umpire and political parties over the interpretation and implementation of election timelines ahead of the 2027 polls.
