Court of Appeal Restores INEC’s 2027 Election Timetable

(INEC. Photo Credit: Tribune Online)

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the Federal High Court judgment that had nullified the timelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2027 general elections.

In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel on Thursday, the appellate court upheld INEC’s appeal and set aside the Federal High Court’s May 20 judgment.

The Court of Appeal found that the trial court had failed to adhere to binding legal precedents, and ruled that INEC’s Revised Timetable for the 2027 elections qualifies as subsidiary legislation under the Electoral Act 2026, carrying the same legal weight as the Act itself.

According to the court, INEC acted within its statutory authority, with every deadline set out in the revised timetable falling squarely within the provisions of the Electoral Act.

INEC had filed its notice of appeal on May 25, raising nine grounds and asking the appellate court to set aside the High Court’s ruling.

The commission argued that the trial court had failed to resolve a jurisdictional issue it had raised, and contended that the suit filed by the Youth Party, YP, was hypothetical and merely academic in nature.

INEC further maintained that the trial court’s failure to address these issues amounted to a denial of fair hearing.