Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun a review of the Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that could affect the eligibility of some candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court affirmed the validity of Sections 77 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026 (as amended) on eligibility to contest in primary elections based on appeals by the Zenith Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party.
Since the judgement, there have been contending views over its implication on candidates who crossed over to new parties after their attempts to secure the tickets of parties they were originally associated with failed.
In Gombe, there are fears over the fate of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami due to the timing of his defection from the All Progressives Congress to the of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In Niger, there were fresh concerns over the fate of Muhammad Nami who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Niger State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The judgement has equally generated mixed reactions over the candidacy of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, in Nasarawa State.
The former IGP, substituted the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Adamu Angba, after the latter withdrew from the race.
Addressing a World Press Conference in Abuja, on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, said the commission had received complaints from political parties, aggrieved aspirants and members of the National Assembly concerning the implications of the Supreme Court judgment.
Amupitan said INEC received the certified true copy of the judgment on Tuesday and is currently studying it before deciding on the appropriate action.
He said, “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 Zenith 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.”
Among those whose nominations have attracted attention are Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Chinda; Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ovie Omo-Agege; former Cross River State governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke; and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Victor Ochei, and so on.
INEC’s review is expected to determine the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for the affected candidates, political parties and the commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
