The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upturned the decision of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which set aside parts of the electoral guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2027 general election.

The court set aside the Abuja Federal High Court judgement and allowed the appeal by INEC on the ground that the electoral umpire is empowered under the law to issue guidelines for the conduct of elections in the country.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who led the appellate court panel that heard and delivered judgement in the matter, held that the Federal High Court is bound by its decision in the case between INEC Vs Youth Party of Nigeria, delivered last week.

Justice James Omotosho has in his ruling in the suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, SDP, granted some reliefs in favour of the party and some others in favour of the electoral umpire.

Not satisfied by the two judgements, INEC approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgments of Justice Umar and parts of the judgement of Justice Omotosho, which limited the commission’s power regarding the conduct of elections.

During the hearing of the appeals, Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, who led the INEC legal team, contended that the commission has the power as provided by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to issue guidelines for the elections.

Izinyon said, “The Constitution, specifically, empowered INEC to organise, supervise and undertake elections and other political activities as provided and that the timetable provided is in consonance with the power donated by the 1999 Constitution and the enabling act for INEC to do what it did in issuing elections timetables.

“The trial court erred in law because it failed to interpret, using the Supreme Court authorities and Court of Appeal decisions on the power already donated by the 1999 Constitution to INEC to arrange for elections including pre-election matters.

“The Supreme Court and Court of Appeal have held that INEC has the power to organise and supervise elections and this includes timetable for elections to carry out political activities preceding the elections.”

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‎Political parties and other stakeholders in Ebonyi State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise.

They warned that thousands of eligible voters, particularly in rural communities, risk being disenfranchised if the exercise ends as scheduled.
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‎The appeal comes as INEC prepares to conclude the third and final phase of the nationwide voter registration exercise on July 26, 2026.
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‎Speaking in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dr. Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, said an extension had become necessary to enable more eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, noting that the general election is still more than 100 days away.
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‎According to her, many elderly people and residents of remote communities are yet to register due to limited access to registration centres, adding that ending the exercise as scheduled could deny thousands of citizens the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
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‎She urged eligible residents of Ebonyi State to take advantage of the registration exercise by registering or updating their voter information where necessary, stressing that voting remains the most effective means of influencing democratic governance.
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‎Commenting on the participation of opposition parties in the state, Adibe-Nwafor disclosed that the ADC had successfully uploaded the names of its candidates for the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and Ebonyi State House of Assembly elections. She stressed that opposition parties remain actively engaged in the state’s political process.
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‎Also speaking, businessmen Fidelis Oge and Michael Igwe appealed to INEC to deploy additional registration personnel and equipment to rural communities across the state, saying the shortage of registration machines had prevented many eligible voters from completing the registration process.
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‎They urged the electoral umpire to consider extending the exercise to ensure that all eligible Nigerians willing to register are given the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the South-East, Omega Odunze, has declared that the party’s candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will win the 2027 presidential election with a wide margin.

Odunze, Special Assistant to Atiku Abubakar on Community Mobilization in the South-East, who is equally the head of the Atiku Community Mobilization, ACM, made the declaration during an interaction with newsmen in Enugu.

Odunze said Atiku has an edge over other President Bola Tinubu and other presidential contenders because of his track record, and also being the only strong contestant from Northern Nigeria, which has bulk votes

Expressing confidence in Atiku’s chances, Odunze pointed to his administrative capacity and competence, which, according to him, stands the ADC presidential candidate out among the other presidential candidates.

“Having served as the number two citizen of the country for eight unbroken years, there is no doubt that Atiku had garnered enormous leadership experience to take the country to a greater height.

“We are convinced that he will win the election because all the odds favour him. His track records in public office are there for everyone to see. When he was the Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) under President Olusegun Obasanjo, the economy of Nigeria boomed.

“Atiku was the one that opened up the communication sector in Nigeria for foreign investment. Because of the confidence of the international community in the economic team led by Atiku, the Paris Club lenders granted Nigeria debt pardon, freeing resources that ought to have gone into debt servicing for development,” Odunze said.

He further disclosed that Atiku’s mobilization team had embarked on voter voter registration sensitization in the South-East states to combat voter-apathy and ensure that residents troop out in large numbers to vote the ADC flagbearer in the forthcoming poll.

He said, “We started with Anambra to Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, sensitizing the people on the need to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards PVC which is the only tool to vote out or vote in candidates of their choice. We are satisfied with the level of compliance.

“In Enugu, the level of compliance is on the rise. Based on our findings during the exercise, South-Easterners are yearning for a government that will bring about sustainable development in the area and fully integrate them into the scheme of things.

“We received assurances that there will no longer be voters apathy in the region as it used to be in the past.”

Odunze said the sensitization campaign was extended to the Hausa community in the South-East, encouraging them to get their PVCs and exercise their franchise during the election.

Secretary of the Enugu State chapter of the ADC, Comrade Adolphus Ude, said the state is ready to deliver victory to candidates of the party at all levels.

According to him, ADC has become the darling of all Enugu people, who, according to him, see the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, as insensitive to the plight of the people.