The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed an appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that voided its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
The electoral commission, through its lawyer, Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed the notice of appeal dated May 25, alongside an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeal.
INEC challenged the ruling on nine grounds, arguing that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, failed to address its objection that the suit instituted against the commission was hypothetical and academic.
The commission maintained that the court’s failure to determine the jurisdictional issue amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
It also faulted the court’s interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, insisting that the provisions did not support the restrictive interpretation adopted in the judgment.
INEC further argued that Justice Umar erred by failing to apply the provisions of Section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2026 in deciding the matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Youth Party, which initiated the suit against the commission, was listed as the respondent in the appeal.
Among the reliefs sought, INEC asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment delivered on May 20 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 between the Youth Party and the commission.
The electoral body also urged the court to strike out the suit, contending that the Youth Party lacked the legal standing to institute the action and that the case was merely academic.
In a separate motion filed before the Federal High Court, INEC requested an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
Justice Umar had ruled on May 20 that INEC lacked the statutory authority to prescribe timelines for political parties to conduct primaries and other pre-election activities for the 2027 polls.
The judge consequently nullified the commission’s election timetable, holding that the schedule imposed restrictive deadlines inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
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