The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has upturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified part of the election guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Okon Abang, who read the judgment, faulted the trial court for invalidating the administrative discretion of INEC, saying; the law gives INEC powers to conduct elections in the country.

He said further that there was no deposition or threat that the respondent was prevented from conducting its primaries, adding that the respondent could only invoke the powers of the court where there are heavy threats to its participation in the election.

Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had nullified guidelines issued by the INEC, directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections.

A political party, the Youth Party, had filed a suit challenging the legality of the electoral body’s directive.

The court said that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, in an appeal dated May 25, 2026, filed by INEC, through its counsel, Alex Izinyon, the electoral body prayed the court to set aside the judgment.
INEC argued that the High Court erred in law when it failed to pronounce on the jurisdictional issue of the suit being hypothetic and academic, and a denial of fair hearing to the appellant.