Supreme Court Restores Electoral Act Provisions for 2027 Elections

The political landscape in Nigeria is preparing for potential legal disputes regarding party primaries for the upcoming elections, following a Supreme Court ruling on September 24, 2026. A seven-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which regulate party membership registers and candidate nominations.

This decision reversed a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal on July 16, which had deemed these provisions unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's ruling arose from an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after a challenge from the Zenith Labour Party.

The restored provisions mandate political parties to submit membership registers within a specified timeframe and utilize these for their primaries. Notably, the judgment did not disqualify any candidates but has implications for several political figures, including former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda.

Additionally, a Federal High Court in Gombe ordered the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct a fresh primary for Isa Pantami, following a challenge from Usman Garry.