The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the INEC election guidelines appeal.
According to Daily Post, the court said it will announce a date for its ruling after reviewing the arguments presented by all parties.
The appeal was filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It followed a Federal High Court judgment that struck down parts of the commission’s revised timetable for the 2027 general elections. The lower court ruled that some deadlines conflicted with the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC is asking the appellate court to overturn that decision. The commission argued that the trial court should not have heard the case because it lacked jurisdiction. It also said the judge wrongly interpreted sections of the Electoral Act.
In addition, INEC told the court that the earlier judgment did not reflect the evidence before it. The commission urged the appellate court to set the ruling aside and dismiss the suit filed against it.
The dispute began after the Youth Party challenged the INEC election guidelines contained in the revised timetable. The party argued that the commission asked political parties to submit their membership registers and databases earlier than the Electoral Act allows. The Federal High Court agreed and nullified the affected parts of the timetable.
The hearing has now ended, and attention has shifted to the Court of Appeal’s decision. The outcome of the INEC election guidelines appeal could determine whether the revised timetable remains in place as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
According to Daily Post, the judgment date will be communicated to all parties later.
