Supreme Court INEC SDP Appeal Dismissed for Lack of Merit
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing the suit as lacking merit and awarding ₦2 million in costs against the electoral body.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, the apex court upheld the judgments of the lower courts, ruling that INEC failed to establish any cogent reason to warrant interference with the decisions earlier reached in favour of the SDP.
Supreme Court INEC SDP Appeal Termed Abuse of Court Process
The court held that INEC’s appeal amounted to an abuse of court process and faulted the commission for pursuing litigation that unnecessarily wasted judicial time. Consequently, the Supreme Court ordered INEC to pay ₦2 million to the SDP as costs.
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the principle that electoral disputes must be anchored on clear constitutional and statutory provisions, warning that frivolous appeals will attract sanctions.
The judgment is seen as a boost for the SDP and a reminder to institutions to exercise restraint and diligence in election-related litigation.
