The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria is set to review the list of candidates for the 2027 general elections following a recent Supreme Court judgment. The apex court restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which deal with political party membership registers and candidate nominations. This development has sparked uncertainty over the status of some party primaries and nominations conducted while the affected provisions were not in force. INEC is expected to publish an updated list of candidates and state its position on the Supreme Court verdict in a press conference on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court on September 24, 2026, unanimously restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The judgment followed an appeal by INEC against an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the provisions. The apex court held that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution. This ruling has generated fresh questions over the status of some party primaries and nominations conducted while the affected provisions were not in force.
The restored provisions reaffirm INEC's powers over party membership registers and candidate nomination. Sources within INEC said candidates whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their parties before the primaries could be affected by the judgment. Validly nominated candidates who are original members of the sponsoring political parties are already applying for Certified True Copies of their membership registers to verify whether the names of their potential opponents who joined parties after primaries were included before the statutory deadline.
INEC had already released candidate lists for the 2027 elections and maintains an official page for amended candidate lists arising from court orders. The Commission's official timetable provides for the publication of the final list of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The expected review could therefore affect candidates whose nominations are found to be inconsistent with the requirements restored by the Supreme Court.
Although the Supreme Court judgment did not automatically invalidate nominations already concluded, new legal challenges could emerge. The judgment has raised fresh concerns among some aspirants who lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries. Aggrieved APC governors are weighing their options in light of the Supreme Court verdict.
The seven-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored the provisions, sparking uncertainty over the status of some candidates. INEC has yet to issue an official statement, but sources within the commission said the review could lead to changes in the candidates list. The commission is expected to state its position on the Supreme Court verdict and other matters surrounding the 2027 election in a press conference on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court verdict has significant implications for the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. The review of the candidates list could lead to changes in the lineup of candidates for various elective positions. Key stakeholders, including political parties and candidates, are watching closely as INEC prepares to unveil the updated list of candidates.
Key points
- The Supreme Court restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
- INEC may review the list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
- The review could affect candidates whose nominations are inconsistent with the restored provisions.
