The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated its position on the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the Electoral Act 2026. According to INEC's National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, political parties will not be allowed to field candidates whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted to the commission. This move aims to prevent parties from benefiting from violations of the law.
The Supreme Court's September 24, 2026 judgment affirmed the constitutionality of key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Specifically, Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) were upheld, along with INEC's revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. This ruling has significant implications for political parties and their candidate selection processes.
Haruna explained that parties affected by the ruling would not be permitted to substitute candidates whose names were not on the submitted membership registers. He cited previous instances where parties attempted to benefit from violations of the law, such as in Zamfara and Plateau states. INEC is taking a firm stance to prevent such practices.
The commission is expected to make a definitive pronouncement on the full implications of the Supreme Court judgment by the following Tuesday. Depending on the outcome of the review, some political parties may be unable to field candidates for certain elective positions in the 2027 elections. This could have far-reaching consequences for the country's political landscape.
INEC's delay in taking a final position was due to the need to obtain legal advice and authenticate the Certified True Copy of the judgment. The commission had to exercise caution, given instances of forged court judgments being presented in the past. Verifying the document's authenticity was crucial before making a public statement.
According to Haruna, INEC interviewed all candidates, including those running for the Houses of Assembly. If a candidate's name was not on the party register, they were not considered a member of the party at the time of contesting for tickets. This process aims to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
INEC's decision is seen as a move to uphold the law and prevent potential irregularities in the 2027 general elections. The commission's stance has been made clear, and political parties are expected to adhere to the regulations. The implementation of this ruling will be closely watched in the coming weeks and months.
Key points
- INEC will not allow parties to field candidates not listed in membership registers.
- The Supreme Court judgment affirmed the constitutionality of key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
- INEC's decision may affect some parties' ability to field candidates in the 2027 elections.
