The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned political parties that fielded candidates whose names were not contained in their membership registers submitted to the commission that they may be barred from participating in the 2027 elections.
INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, gave the warning while appearing on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday evening.
Haruna was reacting to the recent Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
The provisions relate to the submission and use of political parties’ membership registers in the nomination of candidates for elections.
Haruna said parties could not benefit from what the commission considers a violation of the law by presenting candidates whose names were not on the registers submitted to INEC.
He explained that such parties would also not be permitted to substitute the affected candidates, stressing that the commission would enforce the Supreme Court’s decision.
The INEC commissioner said the commission was still examining the judgment and would make a definitive pronouncement on its implementation in the coming days.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has consequently placed renewed focus on the compliance of political parties with the statutory requirements governing membership registers and the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Under INEC’s revised timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
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