INEC Drops Major 2027 Election Warning As Candidates Risk Disqualification Over Party Registers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties that candidates whose names are not contained in the membership registers submitted to the commission could be prevented from contesting the 2027 general elections.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the warning follows the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment which affirmed 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.

Speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday, INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said political parties would not be allowed to benefit from breaches of the law.

Haruna explained that candidates affected by the membership register requirement would not be allowed to simply have their names replaced with those of other candidates.

He argued that permitting such substitutions could amount to allowing political parties to benefit from their own failure to comply with the law.

“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said, citing previous cases involving political parties in Zamfara and Plateau states.

The INEC commissioner further warned that the implications of the Supreme Court judgment could extend beyond individual candidates, suggesting that some political parties might be unable to field candidates for certain governorship elections.

“Some parties may not be able to finish with even governorship candidates,” he said.

Haruna said the membership register requirement applies to candidates across all levels of the 2027 elections, from presidential candidates down to those seeking seats in state Houses of Assembly.

He explained that candidates had been interviewed during the nomination process and that individuals whose names were absent from their party’s membership registers could face difficulties because they were not recognised as members of the party when they contested its primary elections.

“All the candidates, all the way to the Houses of Assembly, we interviewed them. If their names are not on the party register, they were not members of the party at the time that they contested for those tickets,” he stated.

The commissioner acknowledged the concerns generated by the Supreme Court ruling but said INEC was taking precautions before issuing a final interpretation of the judgment.

According to Haruna, the commission had only recently obtained the Certified True Copy of the judgment and would consult its legal experts before announcing its definitive position.

He stressed the importance of verifying the authenticity of the document, recalling that there had been instances in which individuals allegedly circulated forged Supreme Court judgments.

“You can’t be too careful with these things because even when you see copies, and they tell you it’s a CTC, it may be forged,” he said.

Haruna said INEC expected to make a clear pronouncement on the matter by Tuesday next week.

He also expressed concern over the use of threats and intimidating rhetoric in political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that no political actor should be threatened regardless of the number of people involved.

The commissioner described such rhetoric as unacceptable and said it should concern Nigerians, including members of the ruling party.

Haruna further disclosed that INEC was working to secure the funds required to conduct the 2027 general elections, noting that the commission was under increasing time pressure and could no longer afford delays in its preparations for the polls.