Court of Appeal Validates INEC Guidelines for 2027 Election, Overturns High Court Ruling

INEC 2027 election guidelines have been upheld by the Court of Appeal in Abuja after judges overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling that nullified the electoral framework for the 2027 general election.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court ruled that the Youth Party (YP) lacked the legal standing to challenge the guidelines. The court said the party failed to show how the INEC 2027 election guidelines affected its primary election or the submission of candidates for the 2027 polls.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the suit did not establish any direct injury suffered by the party or its members. Consequently, the court declared that the Federal High Court acted in error when it struck down the guidelines on 20 May.

Furthermore, the three-member panel agreed that the lower court’s decision amounted to a miscarriage of justice. The judges therefore set aside the judgment in its entirety and restored the validity of the electoral guidelines.

INEC had challenged the Federal High Court ruling, arguing that the case was hypothetical and that the lower court failed to determine whether it had jurisdiction before deciding the matter. The electoral commission also maintained that it was denied a fair hearing.

Lead counsel to INEC, Dr Alex Izinyom, urged the appellate court to overturn the ruling, insisting that the commission acted within the law when it issued the guidelines for the 2027 general election.

The judgment clears a major legal hurdle ahead of preparations for the next general election and reaffirms the validity of the INEC 2027 election guidelines.