WorldStage— The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced a comprehensive review of the recent Supreme Court judgment that restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Supreme Court had in its September 24, 2026 judgment upheld the constitutionality of sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 and restored INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
Legal experts and political analysts indicate that the apex court’s verdict places the mandates of several prominent politicians under severe scrutiny.
Prominent among those whose nominations are reportedly hanging in the balance are: Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate; Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); Donald Duke, the former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate; and Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Gombe State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, among others.
The development has sent ripples through the political landscape, sparking intense concerns over the eligibility of several high-profile candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, confirmed that the commission received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment earlier in the morning.
He noted that the electoral umpire is carefully studying its contents following mounting complaints and inquiries from political parties, aggrieved aspirants, and the National Assembly.
“We have recently received complaints from some political parties, our new aspirants, and even from the National Assembly, drawing our attention to the recent Supreme Court decision,” Professor Amupitan stated.
He referenced the landmark ruling delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77, subsections 5 to 7, and Section 84(2) of the amended electoral law.
The apex court’s unanimous verdict, delivered by a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, effectively set aside an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had voided those sections.
By validating these provisions, the Supreme Court restored strict regulations governing political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.
Under the reinstated law, only individuals properly documented in a party’s official register—submitted to INEC at least 21 days before primaries—are eligible to vote or be voted for.
This legal shift places the fates of several last-minute defectors and prominent politicians under heavy scrutiny, with some members of the House of Representatives already urging INEC to enforce disqualifications.
However, complex legal debates remain regarding whether the judgment can be applied retroactively to primary elections that have already been conducted.
As political tension builds, INEC has sued for patience, maintaining that its legal department and leadership will meet to finalize its regulatory stance.
The outcome of this critical administrative review is expected to redefine party dynamics and heavily shape the field of candidates certified for the 2027 polls.
