The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated portions of the INEC electoral guidelines governing preparations for the 2027 general elections. In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, the appellate court ruled 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, held that the Youth Party failed to demonstrate how the INEC electoral guidelines adversely affected its interests or those of its members during the conduct of its primary election or the submission of candidates for the 2027 polls. According to the court, the party did not establish any legal injury arising from the commission’s guidelines that would justify the commencement of the action.

The three-member panel further held that the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, erred in its May 20, 2026 judgment, which declared parts of the electoral guidelines inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act. The appellate court ruled that the lower court’s decision resulted in a miscarriage of justice and consequently set it aside.

In the earlier judgment, the Federal High Court had held that the Independent National Electoral Commission lacked the constitutional and statutory authority to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines fixed by the commission.

The court also nullified provisions of the commission’s timetable requiring political parties to submit membership registers and candidates’ particulars before the deadlines provided under the Electoral Act, ruling that INEC could not lawfully shorten statutory timelines.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, INEC appealed the decision through its counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyom, arguing that the Federal High Court failed to determine its preliminary objection that the suit was hypothetical and academic. The commission also contended that the omission denied it a fair hearing. After considering the appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld INEC’s arguments, vacated the Federal High Court judgment, and restored the validity of the INEC electoral guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.