Fresh Legal Battle As INEC Appeals Judgment On Membership Register Requirement

INEC is asking the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the ruling that altered the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers ahead of the 2027 polls.

Last week, Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out INEC’s guideline requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as a prerequisite for participation in the 2027 elections.

The decision followed a suit filed by the Youth Party, which challenged the legality of the directive issued by the electoral body.

The court held that INEC did not have the legal authority to shorten the timeline already provided under the Electoral Act 2026.

Justice Umar ruled that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act allows political parties up to 120 days before an election to submit the personal particulars of their candidates, and that INEC could not lawfully impose an earlier deadline through its guidelines.

However, in a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, INEC, through its counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Alex Izinyon, asked the appellate court to set aside the High Court’s decision.

INEC also urged the Court of Appeal to grant a stay of execution on the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.