By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a review of the Supreme Court judgment that restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday during a World Press Conference in Abuja, saying the commission had received the Certified True Copy of the apex court’s judgment.
The development follows complaints from political parties, aggrieved aspirants and members of the National Assembly over the possible implications of the judgment for candidates who changed political parties after nomination processes had commenced or been concluded.
“We have recently received complaints from some political parties, and aggrieved aspirants, and even from the National Assembly, drawing our attention to the recent Supreme Court decision in INEC and Zenit Labour Party, delivered on the 24th day of September, 2026, affirming the constitutionality of Section 77, subsections 5 to 7 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and also upholding our revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election.
“We only received the certified true copy of this judgement this morning, and it is being reviewed,” Amupitan said.
The Supreme Court, in its September 24 judgment, upheld INEC’s appeal and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 after the Court of Appeal had earlier voided the provisions.
The provisions concern political party membership registers and procedures for nominating candidates, making the judgment significant for parties preparing for the 2027 elections.
Among the candidates whose nominations have attracted attention are Rivers State APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, Delta Central NDC senatorial candidate Ovie Omo-Agege, former Cross River State governor and PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke, and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei.
However, INEC has not, in the statement reviewed, announced that any of the named candidates has been disqualified. The commission said it was studying the judgment before determining the appropriate next steps.
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