INEC Fights Court Ruling On Primaries Deadline
The Independent National Electoral Commission has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn a Federal High Court judgment that cancelled part of its guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
The commission is also seeking an order to stop the execution of the ruling while the appeal is being heard.
The legal battle followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, which nullified INEC’s directive asking political parties to submit membership registers and candidate details before a set deadline.
The suit was filed by the Youth Party, which argued that the commission shortened timelines already provided under the Electoral Act.
INEC, through its lawyer, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, argued that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case.
The electoral body maintained that the law only requires parties to notify it before holding primaries and that it still has powers to issue election guidelines within the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The commission further argued that the judgment went against available evidence and insisted the Youth Party lacked the legal standing to file the suit.
INEC is now asking the appellate court to strike out the case entirely and restore its election guidelines ahead of the 2027 polls.
