The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of a Federal High Court which voided some parts of its Guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body filed an appeal before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal challenging the verdict of the lower court.
INEC also filed a notice for a stay of execution of the judgement of the Federal High Court pending the determination of the appeal.
The appeal by INEC followed a judgement delivered by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday last in which he voided the Electoral Commission’s guidelines requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of conditions for participation in the 2027 polls.
The suit against INEC Guidelines was filed by the Youth Party, which questioned the legality of the electoral commission’s directive.
In its judgement, the court held that the Electoral Commission was not empowered to lawfully reduce the timeline already stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
But, in a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the Federal High Court’s decision.
