Supreme Court Upholds INEC Powers Over Party Primaries
The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro on Thursday overturned a Court of Appeal decision that had voided parts of the Electoral Act and restored the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja. (BusinessDay)
The apex court held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which had challenged the provisions. (BusinessDay)
What the dispute was about
The case centred on Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) set requirements for political parties to maintain and submit their membership registers to INEC. Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods for political parties to nominate candidates. (BusinessDay)
ZLP argued that the provisions interfered with the internal affairs of political parties and conflicted with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, dismissed the party’s case on May 5, 2026.
ZLP subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court reverses Court of Appeal decision
On July 16, the Court of Appeal allowed ZLP’s appeal in part and voided provisions relating to party primaries and membership registers.
The decision prompted INEC to approach the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to overturn the appellate judgment and uphold the disputed provisions. (BusinessDay)
The Supreme Court has now ruled in favour of INEC, confirming the validity of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The ruling means the statutory requirements concerning party membership registers and candidate nomination remain in force. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
SDP, Youth Party appeals also dismissed
The Supreme Court also ruled on separate appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Youth Party in cases involving INEC.
The court dismissed the SDP’s appeal after considering it on its merits.
In the Youth Party’s case, the apex court upheld INEC’s preliminary objection and struck out the appeal for being incompetent.
The court held that the Youth Party had filed its appeal one day outside the prescribed period. (BusinessDay)
The decisions further clarify the legal position of INEC’s role in enforcing statutory requirements governing political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What the ruling means for political parties
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 in effect.
Political parties are therefore required to comply with the statutory rules concerning their membership registers and candidate nomination processes.
The judgment also settles the latest stage of the legal dispute that began at the Federal High Court and moved through the Court of Appeal before reaching the Supreme Court.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ruling provides a judicial determination on the validity of the challenged provisions of the Electoral Act. (The Guardian) Supreme Court Upholds INEC Powers Over Party Primaries
The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro on Thursday overturned a Court of Appeal decision that had voided parts of the Electoral Act and restored the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja. (BusinessDay)
The apex court held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which had challenged the provisions. (BusinessDay)
What the dispute was about
The case centred on Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) set requirements for political parties to maintain and submit their membership registers to INEC. Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods for political parties to nominate candidates. (BusinessDay)
ZLP argued that the provisions interfered with the internal affairs of political parties and conflicted with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, dismissed the party’s case on May 5, 2026.
ZLP subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court reverses Court of Appeal decision
On July 16, the Court of Appeal allowed ZLP’s appeal in part and voided provisions relating to party primaries and membership registers.
The decision prompted INEC to approach the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to overturn the appellate judgment and uphold the disputed provisions. (BusinessDay)
The Supreme Court has now ruled in favour of INEC, confirming the validity of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The ruling means the statutory requirements concerning party membership registers and candidate nomination remain in force. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
SDP, Youth Party appeals also dismissed
The Supreme Court also ruled on separate appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Youth Party in cases involving INEC.
The court dismissed the SDP’s appeal after considering it on its merits.
In the Youth Party’s case, the apex court upheld INEC’s preliminary objection and struck out the appeal for being incompetent.
The court held that the Youth Party had filed its appeal one day outside the prescribed period. (BusinessDay)
The decisions further clarify the legal position of INEC’s role in enforcing statutory requirements governing political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What the ruling means for political parties
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 in effect.
Political parties are therefore required to comply with the statutory rules concerning their membership registers and candidate nomination processes.
The judgment also settles the latest stage of the legal dispute that began at the Federal High Court and moved through the Court of Appeal before reaching the Supreme Court.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ruling provides a judicial determination on the validity of the challenged provisions of the Electoral Act. (The Guardian) Supreme Court Upholds INEC Powers Over Party Primaries
The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro on Thursday overturned a Court of Appeal decision that had voided parts of the Electoral Act and restored the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja. (BusinessDay)
The apex court held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which had challenged the provisions. (BusinessDay)
What the dispute was about
The case centred on Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) set requirements for political parties to maintain and submit their membership registers to INEC. Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods for political parties to nominate candidates. (BusinessDay)
ZLP argued that the provisions interfered with the internal affairs of political parties and conflicted with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, dismissed the party’s case on May 5, 2026.
ZLP subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court reverses Court of Appeal decision
On July 16, the Court of Appeal allowed ZLP’s appeal in part and voided provisions relating to party primaries and membership registers.
The decision prompted INEC to approach the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to overturn the appellate judgment and uphold the disputed provisions. (BusinessDay)
The Supreme Court has now ruled in favour of INEC, confirming the validity of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The ruling means the statutory requirements concerning party membership registers and candidate nomination remain in force. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
SDP, Youth Party appeals also dismissed
The Supreme Court also ruled on separate appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Youth Party in cases involving INEC.
The court dismissed the SDP’s appeal after considering it on its merits.
In the Youth Party’s case, the apex court upheld INEC’s preliminary objection and struck out the appeal for being incompetent.
The court held that the Youth Party had filed its appeal one day outside the prescribed period. (BusinessDay)
The decisions further clarify the legal position of INEC’s role in enforcing statutory requirements governing political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What the ruling means for political parties
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 in effect.
Political parties are therefore required to comply with the statutory rules concerning their membership registers and candidate nomination processes.
The judgment also settles the latest stage of the legal dispute that began at the Federal High Court and moved through the Court of Appeal before reaching the Supreme Court.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ruling provides a judicial determination on the validity of the challenged provisions of the Electoral Act. (The Guardian) Supreme Court Upholds INEC Powers Over Party Primaries
The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro on Thursday overturned a Court of Appeal decision that had voided parts of the Electoral Act and restored the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja. (BusinessDay)
The apex court held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which had challenged the provisions. (BusinessDay)
What the dispute was about
The case centred on Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) set requirements for political parties to maintain and submit their membership registers to INEC. Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods for political parties to nominate candidates. (BusinessDay)
ZLP argued that the provisions interfered with the internal affairs of political parties and conflicted with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, dismissed the party’s case on May 5, 2026.
ZLP subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court reverses Court of Appeal decision
On July 16, the Court of Appeal allowed ZLP’s appeal in part and voided provisions relating to party primaries and membership registers.
The decision prompted INEC to approach the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to overturn the appellate judgment and uphold the disputed provisions. (BusinessDay)
The Supreme Court has now ruled in favour of INEC, confirming the validity of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The ruling means the statutory requirements concerning party membership registers and candidate nomination remain in force. (Peoples Gazette Nigeria)
SDP, Youth Party appeals also dismissed
The Supreme Court also ruled on separate appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Youth Party in cases involving INEC.
The court dismissed the SDP’s appeal after considering it on its merits.
In the Youth Party’s case, the apex court upheld INEC’s preliminary objection and struck out the appeal for being incompetent.
The court held that the Youth Party had filed its appeal one day outside the prescribed period. (BusinessDay)
The decisions further clarify the legal position of INEC’s role in enforcing statutory requirements governing political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What the ruling means for political parties
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 in effect.
Political parties are therefore required to comply with the statutory rules concerning their membership registers and candidate nomination processes.
The judgment also settles the latest stage of the legal dispute that began at the Federal High Court and moved through the Court of Appeal before reaching the Supreme Court.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ruling provides a judicial determination on the validity of the challenged provisions of the Electoral Act. (The Guardian)
