By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has restored the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections after overturning a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated key provisions of the commission’s timetable.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the three-member appellate panel held that the Youth Party, which challenged the guidelines, lacked the legal standing to institute the suit.
The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, ruled that the party failed to show how the electoral guidelines adversely affected its primary election process or the submission of its candidates for the 2027 polls.
According to the court, the Youth Party did not establish any injury arising from the guidelines that would justify seeking judicial intervention.
The appellate court also faulted the judgment delivered on May 20 by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, describing it as erroneous and one that resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
Justice Umar had ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines set by the commission. He also nullified provisions requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines stipulated in the Electoral Act.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, INEC approached the Court of Appeal, arguing through its counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), that the trial court failed to determine its preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit. The commission maintained that the case was speculative and academic, adding that its right to fair hearing was breached.
The Court of Appeal upheld INEC’s appeal, set aside the Federal High Court’s decision in its entirety and reaffirmed the validity of the commission’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
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