By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Independent National Electoral Commission has received the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment restoring key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates for elective positions.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, during the commission's national stakeholders meeting and World Press Conference in Abuja.
Amupitan said the electoral commission received the certified copy of the judgment on Tuesday morning and had immediately commenced a review of the decision and its implications for political parties, aspirants and the commission's preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The development is politically significant because the provisions restored by the Supreme Court concern how political parties organise their membership registers and conduct primaries and other internal selection processes.
The judgment followed a legal challenge by the Zenith Labour Party, which had challenged the constitutionality and application of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision delivered on September 24, 2026, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act after the Court of Appeal had earlier struck down the provisions.
The provisions are particularly important for political parties preparing for the 2027 elections because they establish rules governing party membership registers and the participation of members in congresses, conventions and primaries.
Under Section 77(5), only members whose names appear on a political party's membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a congress, convention or primary are eligible to participate in that particular exercise.
Section 77(6) requires parties to use the membership register submitted to INEC when conducting their congresses, conventions and primaries.
Section 77(7) provides that a political party that fails to submit its membership register within the required period cannot field a candidate in an election.
Section 84(2), meanwhile, provides for the nomination of candidates through direct primaries or consensus.
The Supreme Court's restoration of the provisions therefore has potential implications for political parties and aspirants who are already preparing for the 2027 electoral cycle.
Political parties will need to pay close attention to the requirements surrounding the submission and maintenance of their membership registers.
For aspirants, the rules could influence who is eligible to participate in party nomination processes.
This could become particularly important as political parties begin to organise primaries and other internal processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
The requirement that a member's name must appear on the relevant register before participating in a primary could also affect disputes over membership and eligibility.
Party members who believe they have been excluded from a register could seek clarification or challenge the decision through the appropriate legal and party mechanisms.
Similarly, political parties will need to ensure that their registers are properly compiled and submitted within the prescribed timelines.
The Supreme Court decision therefore gives greater significance to the administrative work being undertaken by parties before the nomination season becomes more intense.
INEC's decision to review the certified judgment before announcing how it will apply the ruling is also significant.
The commission is responsible for administering elections and regulating several aspects of the electoral process, but it must implement the law as interpreted by the courts.
Amupitan said the commission had already received representations from political parties, aggrieved aspirants and the National Assembly concerning the Supreme Court judgment.
These representations indicate that political stakeholders are seeking clarity on how the judgment will affect their activities.
INEC's review is expected to examine the legal and practical implications of the judgment and determine what steps may be necessary to ensure compliance.
The commission's approach is particularly important because the 2027 elections are approaching and political parties are already making preparations.
Any uncertainty over membership registers or candidate nomination procedures could create disputes if not addressed early.
By reviewing the certified judgment now, INEC has an opportunity to provide political parties with guidance before major nomination activities take place.
The ruling also highlights the increasingly important role of the judiciary in resolving disputes over Nigeria's electoral laws.
Election-related litigation has historically been a major feature of Nigerian politics.
Disputes can arise over party membership, primary elections, candidate eligibility, electoral procedures and the interpretation of legislation.
Clear judicial decisions can help establish the legal framework within which parties and electoral authorities must operate.
The Supreme Court's decision is therefore expected to influence how future disputes involving party registers and nominations are handled.
Political parties will need to ensure that their internal procedures are consistent with the restored provisions.
This could require greater attention to the accuracy of membership databases and the timing of submissions to INEC.
Parties may also need to strengthen communication with their members to ensure that eligible participants understand the requirements governing participation in internal elections.
For aspirants, the ruling may create an additional incentive to verify their party membership status well before nomination exercises take place.
A candidate who discovers a problem with his or her membership record shortly before a primary could face significant difficulties.
Early verification could reduce the risk of disputes and allow parties to address legitimate administrative errors before they affect the nomination process.
The ruling also has implications for party leadership.
National and state executives will need to ensure that membership records are managed transparently and according to the law.
Where disputes arise, parties will be expected to follow established procedures rather than relying solely on informal arrangements.
The requirement for membership registers to be submitted to INEC also creates an external reference point for the electoral process.
It can help establish which members were officially recognised as eligible participants at a particular time.
This could potentially reduce some disputes over who was entitled to participate in a primary or congress.
However, the system will only be effective if membership registers are accurately compiled and submitted within the required deadlines.
Political parties therefore face an important administrative responsibility as preparations for 2027 continue.
The Supreme Court judgment also comes at a time when INEC is intensifying its own preparations for the elections.
The commission has announced that Nigeria's national register of voters now contains more than 103 million registered voters.
INEC has also acquired 57,000 additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices and said existing devices had undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration.
The commission is also preparing for the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters' Cards, which is scheduled to begin on October 9.
These developments show that the electoral process is moving into a more active phase.
Political parties are simultaneously preparing their structures while INEC is strengthening its operational and technological systems.
The legal clarity provided by the Supreme Court judgment could therefore become increasingly important as these processes advance.
INEC will need to communicate its interpretation of the judgment clearly to political parties and other stakeholders.
Uncertainty can create unnecessary disputes, particularly when parties are preparing for highly competitive elections.
Clear guidelines could help parties understand their obligations and reduce the likelihood of avoidable litigation.
The commission's handling of the ruling will also be watched by civil society organisations and election observers.
Credible elections depend not only on voting-day arrangements but also on transparent party nomination processes.
If party primaries are conducted according to clear rules, candidates and supporters are more likely to accept the outcome.
Where nomination processes are disputed or perceived to be manipulated, disagreements can continue into the general election.
The provisions restored by the Supreme Court are therefore relevant to the broader objective of strengthening Nigeria's electoral system.
They establish specific requirements concerning party membership and candidate nomination, while placing responsibilities on political parties and the electoral commission.
The court's unanimous decision also settles the immediate constitutional question that had been before it.
The next challenge is implementation.
Political parties will need to adjust their procedures to comply with the ruling, while INEC must determine how best to administer the restored provisions within its existing electoral timetable.
The commission will also need to consider representations from parties and aspirants who may already have concerns about the effect of the judgment on their preparations.
The fact that the certified copy was only received on October 6 means INEC's review is still at an early stage.
The commission has not yet announced a final position on every practical implication of the ruling.
Political stakeholders will therefore be watching closely for additional guidance.
For political parties, the message from the latest development is that membership records and nomination procedures will carry greater legal significance as the 2027 elections approach.
For aspirants, it reinforces the importance of ensuring that their party membership status is properly documented.
For INEC, the immediate task is to translate the Supreme Court's legal interpretation into clear administrative guidance.
The coming months will be particularly important as parties move from broad political mobilisation into more formal nomination preparations.
The restored provisions could influence who participates in party primaries, how parties compile their registers and how disputes over candidate selection are resolved.
The development therefore represents more than a legal update.
It is part of the wider process through which Nigeria is preparing for the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court has provided its interpretation of the relevant provisions, and INEC must now incorporate that interpretation into its electoral administration.
As the commission continues its review, political parties and aspirants are expected to monitor the process closely.
The eventual guidance from INEC could determine how the restored provisions are applied in practice and how parties organise their internal electoral activities.
For now, the commission has confirmed receipt of the certified judgment and commenced its review.
The next phase will be to communicate the implications to political parties and other stakeholders while ensuring that the 2027 electoral timetable remains on course.
The development adds another important legal and administrative milestone to Nigeria's preparations for the next general elections.