By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed a Federal High Court judgement that nullified its directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body, through its lawyer, Alex Izinyon, filed the appeal before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday, asking the appellate court to overturn the lower court’s decision.
The dispute followed a judgement delivered last Thursday by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained INEC from enforcing guidelines considered inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that INEC’s directive unlawfully shortened the timeline provided by law for political parties to submit relevant documents ahead of elections.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly stipulates that political parties are required to submit particulars of candidates not later than 120 days before an election, stressing that INEC lacks the authority to reduce that statutory timeframe through administrative guidelines.
The judgement declared that the electoral commission could not lawfully compel political parties to comply with deadlines outside those expressly provided in the Electoral Act, a position INEC is now seeking to overturn at the appellate court.
