INEC says parties breaching membership-register rules cannot field 2027 candidates
publishers 41articles 51first reported 3 Oct, 09:00 UTCdeveloping since 3 Oct · 27 editions
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission said political parties that fail to comply with statutory membership-register requirements will not be permitted to field affected candidates in the 2027 general elections.
INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Mohammed Haruna said Wednesday that the commission would apply the rule to contests at every level, including state Houses of Assembly. He also said parties could not substitute candidates disqualified because of violations, arguing that substitution would allow them to benefit from noncompliance.
The announcement followed a September 24 Supreme Court ruling that upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro allowed INEC’s appeal, set aside a contrary Court of Appeal decision and restored the Federal High Court’s judgment. The court found that the challenged provisions were not inconsistent with Nigeria’s Constitution and also upheld INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 elections.
The provisions require parties to submit membership registers to INEC within the prescribed period and use those registers for primaries, congresses and conventions. Only listed members may participate, while a party that does not submit its register on time is ineligible to field candidates.
Haruna said INEC’s review could leave some parties without candidates for certain offices, potentially including governorships.
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