The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a major legal victory to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections by overturning a Federal High Court judgment that had nullified parts of the commission's electoral guidelines.
Appeal Court Rules Youth Party Lacked Legal Standing
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the Youth Party, which had initiated the lawsuit against INEC, lacked the legal standing to challenge the guidelines. The court found that the party failed to demonstrate how the guidelines caused any injury to the party or its members during its primary election process or the submission of candidates for the 2027 polls.
Justice Adebukola Banjoko, whose lead judgment was read by Justice Okon Abang, stated that the party did not prove any harm suffered from the guidelines. Consequently, the court ruled that the case should not have been entertained in the first place.
Appeal Court Faults Lower Court's Judgment
The appellate panel also criticized the Federal High Court's May 20 judgment, which had struck down parts of INEC's electoral guidelines. According to the Court of Appeal, the lower court's decision resulted in a miscarriage of justice. The appellate court agreed with INEC's argument that the trial judge failed to first rule on the commission's preliminary objection that the case was merely hypothetical before delivering judgment.
What the High Court Had Ruled
In its May 20 judgment, the Federal High Court had held that INEC could not compel political parties to conduct their primary elections within timelines fixed by the commission. The court also voided parts of INEC's timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates' details before the deadlines provided in the Electoral Act. The judge ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to shorten timelines already set by law.
Restoration of INEC's Guidelines
With the Appeal Court setting aside the earlier judgment, INEC's electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections remain fully valid and enforceable. The decision means political parties must now comply with the commission's timetable for primaries and the submission of candidate information unless another court rules otherwise. This restores INEC's authority to set deadlines and regulate the electoral process as outlined in its guidelines.
INEC Extends 2027 Candidate Submission Deadline
Earlier, INEC extended the deadline for political parties to submit candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections by three additional days. The electoral commission said the decision followed an appeal from the Inter-Party Advisory Council after some political parties failed to meet the original July 11 submission deadline. INEC urged affected parties to use the extension to upload candidates’ names and required details, stressing that no further deadline extension would be announced.
Islamic Scholars Back Tinubu Ahead of 2027
In related political developments, the Coalition for Young Islamic Scholars in Nigeria declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid through a partnership with the City Boy Movement. The coalition’s president, Bashir Abdullahi Ismail, said members unanimously endorsed the alliance and planned community outreach to encourage support for Tinubu ahead of the election.
