The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed an appeal against a Federal High Court judgment that nullified its timelines for political party primaries and the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral commission also filed a motion seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeal.
The disputed judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 20, held that INEC lacked the statutory authority to prescribe the timetable within which political parties must conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.
The court ruled that the powers granted to the commission under Sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 do not extend to fixing deadlines for party primaries.
The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged provisions in INEC’s revised timetable that required political parties to submit membership registers, conduct primaries and complete candidate withdrawal and substitution processes within deadlines set by the commission.
The court subsequently set aside those timelines, holding that they were inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
In its notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, INEC argued that the lower court erred in its interpretation of the Electoral Act and maintained that the commission possesses the constitutional and statutory responsibility to coordinate and manage election activities, including scheduling processes necessary for orderly electoral preparations.
The commission reportedly raised multiple grounds of appeal and urged the appellate court to overturn the judgment and dismiss the suit filed against it. INEC further warned that allowing the ruling to stand could disrupt election planning, logistics and the implementation of activities leading to the 2027 general elections.
The legal dispute has generated widespread reactions among political stakeholders, with some opposition parties and electoral observers welcoming the High Court verdict as a safeguard against undue restrictions on internal party processes, while others expressed concern over its implications for election administration.
The Court of Appeal is expected to determine whether INEC can lawfully retain the authority to set binding timelines for party primaries and candidate nominations, a decision likely to shape preparations for the 2027 general elections.
