The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed an appeal opposing court judgement nullifying guidelines by the INEC mandating political parties to submit a register and database of all members on May 10 to be eligible to contest for the 2027 general elections.

On Monday, the electoral umpire filed an appeal through its lawyer, Alex Izinyon, before an Abuja Appeal Court, urging the court to nullify the verdict of the lower court.

This followed an Abuja Division of High Court barring INEC from violating the electorate act with its guidelines compelling political parties to submit a register and database of all members on May 10 to be eligible to contest for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Muhammed Umar delivered the judgement last Thursday in a suit filed by the Youth Party, compelling INEC to follow the 120 days pre-election deadline prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party registers.

“A Declaration is made that having regards to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days to an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time frame in its 2027 elections,” stated the judgement.