By Joy Yesufu
The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to use their registered membership lists in the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee specifically called on INEC to disqualify candidates whose names are not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties to the commission, as required by law.
The Chairman of the committee, Bayo Balogun, made the call in a statement on Tuesday, citing the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which restored the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Supreme Court, on September 24, set aside a Court of Appeal judgment that had voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act, holding that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Balogun said the judgment had resolved the legal uncertainty surrounding the provisions and urged INEC to enforce them in its monitoring and administration of political parties and their electoral activities.
He said Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names are contained in the membership register submitted to INEC within the prescribed period are eligible to vote or be voted for at party primaries, congresses and conventions.
According to him, Section 77(6) requires political parties to use the register submitted to INEC for their primaries, congresses and conventions.
He also drew attention to Section 77(7), which provides consequences for political parties that fail to submit their membership registers as required by law.
Balogun urged INEC to audit the names of candidates submitted by political parties against the membership registers already submitted to the commission.
“This will be a litmus test for the commission – any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that strict enforcement of the provisions would help prevent disputes and reduce litigation arising from alleged irregularities in the conduct of party primaries and candidate nomination.
“Diligent enforcement of the provision would help prevent disputes and reduce the volume of litigation that could arise from alleged irregularities or non-compliance with Sections 77(4) to 77(6) of the Electoral Act,” he said.
The Supreme Court’s decision came in an appeal by INEC against the Court of Appeal judgment in a case involving the Zenith Labour Party. The apex court restored the Federal High Court’s earlier judgment dismissing the challenge to the disputed provisions.
