The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that political parties risk losing the right to field candidates in the 2027 elections if their names are not contained in the membership registers submitted to the commission. This statement was made by INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, on a television program. He emphasized that the commission will not allow parties to benefit from breaches of the law by replacing candidates whose nominations violate statutory requirements.
The issue arises from a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which restored certain sections of the Electoral Act 2026. These sections relate to the requirements for political party membership registers and the conduct of primaries, congresses, and conventions. One of the affected candidates is Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State. His candidacy has been challenged due to questions over his membership registration date and the party's use of a membership register for the primary.
According to Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act, only members whose names are in the party's membership register submitted to INEC can participate in a party's primary, congress, or convention. Section 77(6) prevents parties from using different registers for such exercises, while Section 77(7) states that a party failing to submit its register within the stipulated period cannot field a candidate. The Supreme Court also upheld Section 84(2), which provides for direct primaries or consensus as candidate nomination methods.
INEC is currently examining the records of candidates across various elective positions to ensure compliance with the restored provisions. Haruna stressed that the commission will scrutinize whether candidates' names appeared on the appropriate party registers at the time of their primaries. This process will affect not just governorship contests but also other levels of the 2027 elections, including the Houses of Assembly.
The implications of INEC's review could be far-reaching, potentially affecting multiple parties and candidates across several elective positions. Haruna indicated that the commission had interacted with candidates and would verify their membership status based on party registers. The final outcome will depend on the commission's findings.
In a related development, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of INEC in a dispute with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The court set aside a Court of Appeal decision and restored a Federal High Court judgment that had dismissed a challenge to the provisions. INEC was awarded N2 million in costs.
INEC has received the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and is reviewing it. The commission is expected to make a definitive pronouncement on the implications of the judgment by next Tuesday. Until then, candidates under scrutiny are not automatically disqualified solely based on the Supreme Court judgment. The ruling restored relevant Electoral Act provisions, and questions surrounding individual nominations will depend on membership records and other documents before INEC and the courts.
Key points
- Political parties risk losing the right to field candidates if names are not in membership registers submitted to INEC.
