The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed a May 20 judgment that had voided timeframes in INEC’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the original ruling, which struck down the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Why the Appeal Court Reversed the RulingA three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, delivered the judgment on Thursday afternoon.
The panel unanimously held that INEC’s guidelines did not violate any provision of the Electoral Act 2026, contrary to the trial court’s earlier finding.
The Court of Appeal found that the trial court had applied too rigid an interpretation of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act.
The appellate panel added that the revised timetable INEC issued did not violate Sections 31, 32, and 92 of the Electoral Act.
