The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed a Federal High Court decision that struck out major deadlines in its revised schedule for the 2027 general elections. On Monday, May 25, 2026, INEC filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar on May 20, 2026.

The case, FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, was brought by the Youth Party against INEC’s updated election calendar. The party argued that the commission acted beyond its legal mandate by reducing timeframes clearly set out in the Electoral Act, 2026. The court agreed, voiding INEC’s timelines for party primaries, submission of candidates’ details, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, release of the final candidates’ list, and the close of campaigns.

In his ruling, Justice Umar stated that INEC’s power to issue election guidelines does not extend to amending provisions of the Electoral Act. The court held that the commission cannot cut the 120-day window given to political parties under Section 29(1) to submit particulars of their candidates. It also affirmed that parties retain the right to withdraw and replace candidates up to 90 days to an election, and that INEC had no authority to fix an earlier cutoff. The judgment further faulted INEC’s plan to publish the final list of candidates before the 60-day minimum required by law, as well as its directive that campaigns must stop two days before polling. The court also ruled that deadlines set by INEC for submitting party membership registers for primaries do not apply when parties hold new primaries to replace withdrawn candidates.

INEC’s original timetable required all parties to submit their membership registers by May 10, 2026, and conclude primaries, withdrawals, and substitutions before the end of May. Following the court’s decision, the deadline for filing updated registers and related nomination documents effectively shifted to September 2026.

In its appeal, INEC listed nine grounds of objection. Represented by Alex Izinyon, SAN, the commission argued that the trial court erred by not addressing whether the suit was speculative or academic. INEC maintained that the lower court interpreted Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026 too narrowly and failed to consider Section 151 of the same Act. The commission is asking the appellate court to set aside the ruling and suspend its enforcement until the appeal is decided.