In a notice submitted to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, the commission asked the appellate court to set aside the earlier decision delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which invalidated a directive tied to political party compliance requirements.
The dispute stems from a ruling by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, which nullified INEC’s guideline that required political parties to submit updated membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as a condition for participation in the 2027 polls.
The court held that the commission acted beyond its powers by imposing a deadline that conflicts with provisions of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which governs the timeline for submission of party membership records and candidate details.
The suit was initiated by the Youth Party, which challenged the legality of the directive and argued that it was inconsistent with the electoral framework.
In the appeal filed on May 25, 2026, INEC, through its counsel Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, asked the appellate court not only to set aside the judgment but also to suspend its implementation pending the determination of the appeal.
The case now moves to the Court of Appeal, where the legality of the disputed guideline will be reviewed.
