The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially received and commenced a detailed review of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
​The legal document was formally delivered to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday morning, October 6, 2026, enabling its legal and operations teams to evaluate the full scope of the apex court’s ruling.
​The judgment restored key provisions of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, reaffirming statutory mandates requiring political parties to maintain updated membership registers, submit them to INEC within prescribed timelines, and strictly adhere to those registers during congresses, conventions, and primary elections.
Under the restored provisions, failure to submit a valid register within the stipulated timeframe strips a political party of the eligibility to field candidates for affected positions.
​Speaking on the development, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed receipt of the judgment and stated that the commission is carefully analyzing the text.
​”The Commission received the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment on Tuesday,” Haruna stated during a briefing at the INEC headquarters. “Our legal department is currently studying the decision to determine its full implications and guide the Commission’s official position, guidelines, and next operational steps for political parties as we prepare for the 2027 general elections.”
​The apex court’s decision has created heightened anticipation across Nigeria’s political landscape. Legal experts note that the ruling reinforces INEC’s regulatory oversight over party compliance and limits late floor-crossing or irregular nominations by politicians attempting to bypass membership submission rules prior to primaries.
​INEC is expected to issue a formal directive and updated compliance guidelines to all registered political parties following the conclusion of its internal review.
