The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that political parties that fail to comply with statutory requirements governing membership registers may be barred from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The position follows a Supreme Court judgment restoring key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.
The judgment has drawn attention to the political future of several aspirants and candidates, including Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, whose nomination has become a subject of public discussion.
The Supreme Court, on September 24, 2026, upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 after allowing an appeal by INEC in its dispute with the Zenith Labour Party.
Under Section 77(5), political party members must have their names on the membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a party primary, congress or convention to participate in the exercise. Section 77(6) requires parties to use the register submitted to the commission for those activities.
Section 77(7) provides that a party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period cannot field candidates for the relevant election. Section 84(2) provides for the nomination of candidates through direct primaries or consensus.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said on October 6 that the commission had received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment and was reviewing its implications following complaints from political parties, aspirants and members of the National Assembly.
The commission’s review comes amid questions about candidates who changed political parties after nomination processes had begun or concluded. Other political figures mentioned in reports on the issue include Delta Central senatorial aspirant Ovie Omo-Agege and former Cross River State governor Donald Duke.
However, the Supreme Court ruling does not automatically establish that every candidate whose party membership or nomination is being questioned has been disqualified.
The legal distinction is important: the judgment states that the consequence under Section 77(7) concerns a political party’s eligibility to field candidates, rather than automatically imposing personal disqualification on every individual member.
INEC has not announced a final decision disqualifying Chinda or the other named politicians. Their circumstances would depend on the relevant party records, compliance with the law and any applicable legal proceedings.
The ruling has renewed attention on political parties’ responsibility to maintain and submit their membership registers within the statutory timeline ahead of the 2027 elections.
As INEC continues its review, political parties are expected to assess their compliance with the restored provisions while the commission determines the appropriate steps under the law.
