Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly enforce the Electoral Act 2026 by disqualifying any candidate whose name is not listed in their political party’s official membership register. The committee’s chairman, Bayo Balogun, made the appeal during a statement issued on Tuesday, emphasizing that the Supreme Court has already settled legal disputes surrounding key sections of the law.
Balogun, who represents the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressed that pending litigation regarding the interpretation and constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 is now resolved following a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026. The apex court overturned a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal that had declared those sections unconstitutional, reaffirming their validity under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
According to the committee chairman, Section 77(5) clearly states that only members whose names appear in the official party register submitted to INEC are eligible to participate in party primaries, congresses, or conventions — whether as voters or candidates. Section 77(6) further mandates that political parties must use the same register for all such electoral processes within the party.
Balogun urged INEC to act swiftly and without delay in enforcing these provisions across all political parties. He recommended that the commission conduct thorough audits to verify whether the candidates nominated by each party are actually registered members as required by law. “This will be a litmus test for the commission — any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified,” he stated firmly.
He added that strict enforcement would help reduce election-related disputes and minimize the number of lawsuits arising from alleged irregularities or non-compliance with the Electoral Act. By ensuring transparency and accountability at the party level, INEC can strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
The move underscores growing efforts to institutionalize electoral reforms and ensure that only legitimate party members can influence or contest party nominations. As Nigeria prepares for its next democratic exercise, this directive positions INEC at the center of enforcing legal standards that promote fairness and credibility in politics.
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