INEC Speaks on Disqualifying Chinda, Others After Supreme Court Judgement

According to a report by The Daily Trust on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said political parties that fielded candidates whose names were not on the registers submitted to the commission will not take part in the 2027 elections. They will also not be allowed to replace those candidates.

The warning follows the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgement, which affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026. The court also upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the polls.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of information and voter education, Malam Mohammed Haruna, spoke on Trust TV’s Daily Politics on Wednesday evening. He explained that defaulting parties cannot be allowed to profit from wrongdoing.

“You remember cases that we had of some in Zamfara, you remember Plateau? The same thing,” he said, adding that substituting such candidates would amount to benefiting from an offence.

Haruna warned that, depending on when INEC concludes its work, “some parties may not be able to finish with even governorship candidates.”

He said candidates from the governorship down to the houses of assembly were screened, and anyone whose name was not on a party register was not a member when they contested for the tickets.

On timing, he said the commission should be able to make a definite pronouncement on the judgement by Tuesday next week.

The delay, he explained, is because INEC must first get advice from its legal experts after receiving the Certified True Copy, which it obtained on Tuesday.

He noted that some people have even forged Supreme Court judgements, so the commission is being careful.

The commissioner also raised concern over threats during campaigns. “Nobody should be threatened at all,” he said, adding that the situation should worry everyone, including the ruling party.

He added that INEC is working to secure the funds needed for the elections, as it no longer has the luxury of time.

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