Supreme Court Upholds Electoral Act Rules on Party Registers, Candidate NominationThe Supreme Court has upheld key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.A seven-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, allowed an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and overturned an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal that had voided the provisions.The affected provisions are Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The Supreme Court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.The ruling restores requirements concerning the submission and use of political parties’ membership registers for primaries, congresses and conventions.
Fxgxdhc It also restores the statutory framework governing the nomination of candidates by political parties.The legal dispute followed a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party, after the Court of Appeal in July 2026 had declared the disputed provisions unconstitutional. INEC subsequently appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.The apex court’s judgment settles the dispute at the Supreme Court level and restores the provisions ahead of future elections and the party processes that precede them.
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.