INEC Speaks on Disqualifying Chinda, Others After Supreme Court Judgement

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that candidates who contested their primaries without having their names included in the membership registers submitted to the commission may be excluded from the 2027 general elections.

According to a report by The Daily Trust on Thursday, October 8, 2026, INEC also stated that parties affected by the violation would not be permitted to substitute such candidates.

The commission’s position follows the September 24, 2026, judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the constitutional validity of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026. The court also affirmed INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the forthcoming elections.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed the commission’s position during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday evening.

Haruna explained that political parties could not be allowed to benefit from actions that violated the law, stressing that permitting them to replace candidates who were not eligible in the first place would effectively reward the breach.

He referenced previous controversies involving candidates in Zamfara and Plateau states, noting that similar situations had occurred in the past.

“You remember cases that we had of some in Zamfara, you remember Plateau? The same thing,” Haruna said, explaining that allowing substitutions under such circumstances would amount to allowing a party to benefit from an offence.

The commissioner further warned that the implications of the Supreme Court judgment could affect candidates across different levels of government.

According to him, INEC has been examining candidates from governorship positions down to the state Houses of Assembly.

He explained that where a candidate’s name was not contained in the membership register submitted by the political party, such an individual could not be regarded as a member of the party at the time of seeking its ticket.

Haruna cautioned that the situation could have serious consequences for some political parties depending on the outcome of the commission’s review.

“Some parties may not be able to finish with even governorship candidates,” he said, while explaining that the process was still being carefully assessed.

On when INEC would provide a definitive interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling, Haruna said the commission expected to make a clear statement by Tuesday of the following week.

He explained that INEC had received the Certified True Copy of the judgment on Tuesday and was awaiting further legal advice before announcing its final position.

The commissioner said the commission was taking the matter cautiously because of concerns over the authenticity of documents sometimes presented as court judgments.

He noted that there had been instances where individuals forged Supreme Court decisions, making it necessary for INEC to rely on verified legal documents and proper interpretation.

Haruna also expressed concern about the security situation surrounding political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. He stressed that political candidates and supporters should be able to participate in the electoral process without intimidation or threats.

“Nobody should be threatened at all,” he said, adding that the issue should concern every political party, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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