The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has restored the timetable and schedule of activities issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday by a three-member panel, the appellate court set aside the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, which had nullified portions of INEC’s revised timetable for the elections.
The Court of Appeal held that INEC acted within its statutory powers when it issued the timetable, ruling that the revised schedule constitutes subsidiary legislation under the 2026 Electoral Act and carries the force of law.
The court further maintained that the deadlines set by INEC for political parties to conduct primaries and complete other pre-election activities fall within the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The judgment followed an appeal filed by INEC against a May 20 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had declared that the electoral commission lacked the power to prescribe timelines for political parties to conduct their primaries and nominate candidates.
The earlier judgment was delivered in a suit filed by the Youth Party, which argued that INEC had exceeded its powers by imposing deadlines for political parties to conduct primaries and submit candidates for the 2027 elections.
INEC, however, challenged the ruling, arguing that the judgment could create uncertainty in the electoral process and disrupt the interconnected timelines required for the preparation and conduct of the 2027 general elections.
With the latest decision, the electoral process has been returned to the timetable issued by INEC, unless further legal challenges alter the position.
The development is expected to have immediate implications for political parties, aspirants and politicians across the country, many of whom have already begun positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.
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