INEC to Review Supreme Court Ruling on Electoral Act Provisions

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced it will hold an internal meeting next week to determine actions following a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 8, which restored significant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Mohammed Haruna, INEC's national commissioner for information and voter education, disclosed this during an interview on Trust Television's Daily Politics programme on October 8.

The Supreme Court, in a lead judgment by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld an appeal by INEC, reinstating sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which had been voided by the Court of Appeal in July. The restored provisions mandate that only party members listed in a register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary may participate, and any party failing to comply cannot field candidates.

While the ruling does not disqualify specific candidates, it opens avenues for legal challenges regarding party nominations.