The Committee on Electoral Matters has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify candidates fielded by political parties for the 2027 General Election if their names are not contained in the parties’ membership registers submitted to the commission.
The committee made the demand in a letter dated September 30, 2026, signed by its Chairman, Hon. Prince Bayo Balogun, following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the validity and constitutionality of relevant provisions of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The committee said the judgment had effectively settled the legal uncertainty that previously prevented INEC from taking decisive administrative action on the provisions.
Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act stipulates that only members whose names appear in the register of a political party are eligible to vote or be voted for at the party’s primaries, congresses and conventions.
Balogun recalled that INEC, in a July 26, 2026 response, had expressed reservations about enforcing some aspects of Section 77 because of pending judicial proceedings challenging the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of the provisions.
According to him, the circumstances have now changed following the Supreme Court’s pronouncement, making continued hesitation by the commission unnecessary.
He therefore urged INEC to immediately enforce Sections 77(4) to 77(6) of the Electoral Act and ensure that political parties comply with the provisions in the conduct of their internal electoral processes.
The committee called on the commission to undertake a comprehensive audit of the candidates submitted by all political parties for the 2027 elections and cross-check their names against the membership registers previously filed with INEC.
It warned that candidates whose names are not contained in the relevant party registers should not be allowed to participate in the election.
The committee described the proposed audit as a “litmus test” for INEC, stressing that political parties and candidates found to have violated the law should face disqualification.
It further argued that strict enforcement of Section 77 would help forestall the proliferation of pre-election litigations that could arise from alleged irregularities in party membership and nomination processes.
The committee said diligent implementation of the provision would not only ensure compliance with the Electoral Act but also reduce avoidable disputes capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 electoral process.
