The Supreme Court has restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, reversing an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated the provisions.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro allowed the appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission and restored the judgment of the Federal High Court which had dismissed the constitutional challenge brought by the Zenith Labour Party.
The provisions regulate the membership register political parties must submit to INEC ahead of primaries, congresses and conventions. Section 84(2) also provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of selecting candidates.
Importantly, the judgment does not by itself invalidate any particular candidate. Whether a nomination complies with the restored provisions would depend on the facts of the individual case and, where challenged, determination by a competent court.
The Supreme Court also awarded ₦2 million costs against ZLP.
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Source: The Guardian Nigeria
