The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that only candidates whose names are contained in their political parties' membership registers are allowed to participate in the 2027 general elections. This move is aimed at ensuring compliance with Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026. The committee's chairman, Bayo Balogun, signed a letter dated September 30, 2026, which was made available to journalists in Abuja.
The committee's request is based on a Supreme Court judgment that upheld the validity and constitutionality of Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act. This section provides that only members whose names are contained in a political party's register are eligible to vote or be voted for at the party's primaries, congresses, and conventions. The Supreme Court's decision has provided clarity on the provision, which had been subject to judicial challenges.
The committee's intervention is significant, as it comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections and INEC continues its preparations for the electoral cycle. Compliance with statutory requirements governing party membership and candidate nomination is expected to remain a major issue as parties finalize their candidates for the presidential, National Assembly, and governorship elections.
The committee has specifically asked INEC to conduct an audit of the candidates presented by all registered political parties for the 2027 elections and compare their names with the membership registers earlier submitted to the commission. This exercise aims to establish whether the candidates complied with Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act. Any political party or candidate found to have violated the provision may face disqualification.
According to the committee, an early audit will help prevent a fresh wave of post-primary litigation, particularly cases challenging the eligibility of candidates on grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The committee believes that if diligently done, the audit will save the courts from a flood of litigations that may arise from irregularities and non-adherence to Section 77(4-6) by political parties and their candidates.
Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026 deals with the internal administration of political parties, including the conduct of party primaries, congresses, and conventions. The provision has attracted significant attention due to its implications for the eligibility of party members to participate in the processes through which candidates are selected for elective offices.
The committee's chairman, Bayo Balogun, noted that INEC had previously expressed reservations about enforcing the provision due to pending judicial proceedings. However, with the Supreme Court's decision, the legal position has now materially changed, and INEC is urged to proceed with enforcing Section 77(4-6) of the Electoral Act without further delay.
Key points
- The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has urged INEC to audit candidates for the 2027 general elections and disqualify those whose names are not in party membership registers.
- The committee's request is based on a Supreme Court judgment that upheld the validity and constitutionality of Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act.
- The audit aims to prevent post-primary litigation and ensure compliance with statutory requirements governing party membership and candidate nomination.
