The Independent National Electoral Commission has filed a Notice of Appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified part of the election guidelines put in place by the commission for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Filing the notice at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, the electoral body sought to overturn the high court judgment delivered on May 20.

Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party, nullified part of the guidelines issued by INEC, directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10 as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections.

The political party had, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 between the Youth Party and INEC, challenged the legality of the electoral body’s directive.

The court held in its judgment that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

However, INEC, in its appeal dated May 25, asked the appellate court to issue an order setting aside the decision of the lower court, which nullified its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

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