INEC awaits Supreme Court judgment as candidates face uncertainty

Anxiety is growing among political parties and candidates ahead of the publication of the final list of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 10.

The uncertainty follows the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which could affect candidates who emerged from party primaries and congresses conducted while an earlier Court of Appeal ruling was in force.

INEC said on Sunday that it had applied for a certified true copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment and would not take a position until it had studied the ruling.

The National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission expected to receive the document on Monday.

“The commission is yet to receive the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgement. Hopefully we will do so tomorrow. Until we do so and deliberate on it, we cannot make any pronouncement on the issue,” he said.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, also confirmed that the commission had applied for the CTC, adding that an opinion would be issued after examining the implications of the judgment.

The development comes ahead of INEC’s World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Engagement scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.

The Supreme Court had set aside the July 16 judgment of the Court of Appeal concerning provisions of the Electoral Act relating to party membership and participation in primaries.

The decision has triggered concern over its possible implications for party primaries and congresses conducted while the Court of Appeal judgment remained in force.

Political parties are now reviewing their nomination processes and membership records as they await INEC’s interpretation of the judgment.

With the final list of governorship and State Assembly candidates due for publication on October 10, attention is expected to focus on whether the Supreme Court ruling will affect candidates already nominated or published by the commission.

INEC has said it will make its position known only after receiving and considering the certified judgment.