Abuja – On Thursday the Supreme Court of Nigeria unanimously restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) won an appeal that overturned a Court of Appeal ruling which had declared those sections void.
The seven‑justice panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, validated sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the 2026 Act. Those clauses govern the submission and use of political‑party membership registers and set out that candidate nominations may be conducted by direct primaries or consensus for the 2027 general elections.
In its judgment the Court held that the contested sections do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and criticised the appellate court for upholding an appeal filed by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The Supreme Court reinstated the Federal High Court’s earlier decision, dismissed the ZLP’s appeal and ordered the party to pay N2 million in costs.
The appellate court’s July 16 decision had struck down the same provisions, finding them inconsistent with constitutional sections 221 and 222, which protect a party’s right to decide whom to sponsor. The ZLP had challenged INEC’s enforcement of the membership‑register deadlines and the prohibition on using alternative registers for primaries, arguing that the law usurped parties’ internal‑affair rights.
By restoring the sections, the Supreme Court confirms that only individuals whose names appear on a register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions may vote, that parties must use that register exclusively, and that failure to submit a register disqualifies a party from fielding candidates. The ruling provides legal certainty for INEC as Nigeria prepares for its 2027 elections.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
