Nigeria Court of Appeal overturns high court ruling on INEC 2027 election guidelines

The Abuja Court of Appeal unanimously set aside a May 20 Federal High Court judgment that had nullified parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) guidelines for the 2027 general elections. The appellate panel, led by Justices Adebukola Banjoko and Okon Abang, held that the Youth Party lacked legal standing and that INEC acted within its statutory powers under the Electoral Act. The decision restores the validity of INEC’s revised timetable and party‑membership submission deadlines.

Other election‑related cases are concurrently before Nigerian courts. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on appeals by the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party seeking to overturn a Federal High Court order to deregister them. A Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to deliver judgment on a dispute over the Peoples Democratic Party’s interim leadership, while a separate suit involving the Accord Party’s presidential ticket has been adjourned pending INEC’s participation. The Federal High Court also ordered a status‑quo in a case filed by Sesugh Kaaba against the All Progressives Congress and INEC. Additionally, presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore faced a threatened foreclosing of his defence in a criminal defamation trial related to posts about President Bola Tinubu.