The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified part of the commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

INEC, in its appeal, challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain the suit filed against its electoral guidelines, insisting that the lower court ought not to have assumed jurisdiction over the matter

The electoral body, in a motion on notice attached to the appeal, prayed the appellate court for an order staying the execution of the judgment delivered on 20 May 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Last week, Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by 10 May as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections.

The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged the electoral body’s directive.

In his judgment, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

However, in the appeal dated 25 May 2026 and filed through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, INEC urged the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment.

Apart from seeking to set aside the judgment, the Senior Advocate also asked the court to stay its execution.

INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing that the trial court erred in law by failing to pronounce on the jurisdictional issue that the suit was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying the appellant fair hearing.

Chief Izinyon further argued that the lower court erred in law when it held that Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026 required political parties to submit the names of candidates who emerged from valid primaries not later than 120 days before the date of the general election.

According to the appeal, what the Electoral Act requires political parties to do is to notify INEC 21 days before the conduct of their primaries, congresses, conventions or meetings convened for the election of executive committees, other governing bodies or the nomination of candidates.

The appellant maintained that INEC was not barred from imposing timelines for political parties to conduct their primaries, provided such activities complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC further argued that the judgment of the trial court was against the weight of evidence placed before it, and consequently urged the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court.

The commission also asked the court to strike out the suit on the ground that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

The national leadership of the Youth Party has disowned a lawsuit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the case was instituted without the approval of its recognised leadership structures.

In a public disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by Solomon Oyekunle, the party said the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, titled Youth Party vs INEC, as well as the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026 by Justice M. G. Umar, were not authorised by its National Working Committee (NWC) or any official organ of the party.

The party stated that the individuals behind the legal action acted independently and without a mandate from its leadership.

“We dissociate ourselves entirely from this suit, its proceedings, and the judgment arising therefrom,” the statement read.

The Youth Party reiterated its commitment to complying with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines and timetable for the 2027 general elections, stressing that it would not resort to litigation against lawful electoral processes.

It added that despite tight timelines, the party would proceed with preparations for its National Convention scheduled for May 23, 2026, and its primaries fixed for May 29, 2026, rather than pursue judicial intervention.

The party further warned that any individual who initiated or pursued the case without authorisation would bear personal responsibility for their actions.

Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed Umar, in the judgment in the suit, restrained INEC from enforcing parts of its revised timetable for the 2027 elections, holding that several deadlines set by the commission were inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The court found that INEC exceeded its legal authority by imposing deadlines that encroached on timeframes guaranteed to political parties under the law.

Counsel in the matter were J. O. Olotu for the plaintiff and Sarafa Yusuf for INEC, while the court issued declarations clarifying INEC’s powers regarding party primaries, candidate submission, substitution, publication of final candidate lists, and campaign regulations.

The decision by some former ministers of President Bola Tinubu to resign from the Federal Executive Council in pursuit of elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections appears to be yielding mixed fortunes, with only two securing party tickets so far.

Five former cabinet members stepped down from their positions after the Presidency directed political appointees seeking elective offices to resign before participating in party primaries.

Their resignation was in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

Among those affected were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who resigned to contest for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Bauchi State; and former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, who resigned to pursue Kebbi senatorial ticket.

Others are former Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, who resigned to contest Gombe governorship ticket; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, pursuing House of Representatives ticket in Abia State; and former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to contest the Oyo governorship primaries.

Of the five, only Onyejeocha and Sununu have secured their tickets.

Onyejeocha clinched the APC ticket for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia after emerging as an unopposed candidate.

Sununu also secured the APC ticket for Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency after withdrawing from the Kebbi South senatorial race.

Adelabu, Alkali lost out, Tuggar’s fate hangs

Adelabu, who resigned after the deadline set by the President, had hoped to secure the party’s governorship ticket in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former minister was, however, defeated in the contest by Senator Sarafadeen Alli.

Alli polled 578,143 votes to defeat Adelabu, who got 19,193 votes.

Following the outcome of the exercise, Adelabu alleged manipulation in the primary process, insisting that the election did not reflect the true wishes of party members.

He vowed to challenge the outcome of the election, adding that his team was preparing to petition the party leadership at the national level.

Speaking to journalists during the exercise, the ex-minister said, “In some wards, our people were prevented from voting; they were intimidated, they were chased away violently. And in some wards, voting did not take place at all, but they recorded numbers for them.

“All these kinds of misconduct are not good at this stage of our democracy in Nigeria and something has to be done about it. We are going to write serious petitions against all these things that took place.”

Similarly, former transport minister Alkali failed to secure the APC governorship ticket in Gombe State after boycotting the primary process over alleged irregularities.

Alkali lost to Jamilu Gwamna, who is backed by the incumbent, Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

Gwamna emerged winner of the primary after polling 247,161 votes to defeat Alkali, who polled 11, 612 votes and the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, who scored 12,120 votes.

Alkali had earlier boycotted the primaries over alleged lack of fairness, inclusivity, and credibility.

He also alleged that the exercise lacked the basic hallmarks of a credible democratic process.