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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment that nullified its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
INEC also asked the appellate court to suspend the execution of the ruling while its appeal is being heard.
In a notice of appeal filed on Monday and signed by its legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Alex Izinyon, INEC listed nine grounds for seeking to have the judgment delivered on May 20 set aside.
The commission argued that the suit filed by the Youth Party (YP) was hypothetical and should not have been entertained by the court.
INEC also said the trial court failed to rule on key jurisdictional issues it raised, which it claimed amounted to a denial of fair hearing. It further disagreed with the interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, as stated by the Federal High Court.
The court had ruled that political parties must submit candidate names not later than 120 days before the general election and give INEC at least 21 days’ notice before primaries or related meetings.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.”
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026,” the ruling stated.
However, INEC insisted the judgment was against the weight of evidence and asked the Court of Appeal to set it aside.
The commission also urged the court to strike out the case, arguing that the Youth Party lacked the legal right (locus standi) to bring it and describing the matter as purely academic.
