Anxiety has continued to mount among political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections following the Supreme Court judgment restoring provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, set aside the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal which had voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The apex court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, thereby restoring the Federal High Court’s earlier decision and upholding the provisions challenged by the Zenith Labour Party.

The affected provisions concern statutory requirements relating to political parties’ membership registers as well as procedures for nominating candidates. Section 84(2), in particular, provides for direct primaries or consensus in the nomination of candidates.

The judgment has generated uncertainty over the status of some candidates, particularly those whose party membership records or nomination processes could be questioned under the restored provisions.

Some political parties, however, have maintained that their candidates remain safe, insisting that they complied with the relevant provisions of the law during their membership registration and primary election processes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission is now expected to clarify how the judgment will affect the nomination and eligibility of candidates already submitted by political parties.

The uncertainty comes at a critical stage of preparations for the 2027 elections, with parties already campaigning and mobilising supporters across the country.

The legal dispute originated from a suit challenging sections of the Electoral Act 2026. The Federal High Court initially dismissed the case, but the Court of Appeal later voided the disputed provisions, prompting further legal proceedings at the Supreme Court.

With the apex court’s latest ruling restoring the disputed provisions, political parties and affected candidates are now awaiting INEC’s interpretation and possible administrative action.

The development has also revived concerns over potential pre-election litigation, particularly where candidates’ compliance with membership registration and nomination requirements is disputed.

For now, political parties and candidates are closely watching INEC for further clarification on how the judgment will be implemented and whether any candidate lists or nomination records will be affected.