Political parties that field candidates whose names are not contained in the membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) risk being barred from participating in the 2027 general elections, the commission has warned.
INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, stressing that parties affected by the rule would also not be allowed to substitute the candidates in question.
Haruna’s warning follows the 24 September 2026 judgment of the Supreme Court, which upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026. The apex court also upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
Under Section 77(7), a political party that fails to submit its membership register within the prescribed period is not eligible to field a candidate in an election.
Sections 77(5) and 77(6) also restrict participation in party primaries to members contained in the register submitted to INEC and prohibit parties from using a different register for their primaries, congresses or conventions.
Haruna said permitting parties to replace candidates who were not eligible under the membership-register provisions would effectively allow them to benefit from their own non-compliance.
“It’s like you committed an offence and then you come and benefit from it,” he said.
He recalled previous electoral disputes in Zamfara and Plateau states, warning that strict enforcement of the provisions could affect some parties’ ability to field candidates for various elective positions, including governorship and State House of Assembly seats.
The commissioner said INEC was expected to make a definitive pronouncement on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment by Tuesday next week.
He explained that the commission was reviewing the judgment after receiving its Certified True Copy (CTC) on Tuesday. According to him, INEC must first authenticate the document and obtain the necessary legal advice before taking a final position.
Haruna also expressed concern over the increasingly hostile rhetoric surrounding early political activities ahead of the 2027 elections. He urged political parties and other stakeholders, including the ruling party, to moderate their language and prioritise peace and public safety.
He added that INEC was working to secure the funds required to conduct the elections, noting that the commission was running out of time as preparations for the 2027 polls intensify.
INEC’s published timetable schedules the presidential and National Assembly elections for 16 January 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for 6 February 2027.
