INEC warns that parties breaching membership-register rules could face ballot exclusion in the 2027 elections with no candidate replacements allowed
The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that political parties that fail to comply with membership-register requirements could be barred from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
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INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said parties would not be allowed to replace candidates in an attempt to avoid the consequences of violating the law.
Haruna gave the warning during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday, stressing that the consequences could affect governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
He said the commission was currently reviewing the Supreme Court’s judgment before issuing a definitive position on how the restored provisions would be applied.
“No party will be able to change candidates. They won’t contest the election. Remember Zamfara and Plateau. The law is clear,” Haruna said.
According to the INEC commissioner, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to the commission at least three weeks before conducting their primaries.
Candidates seeking party tickets must also have their names included in the relevant membership register within the stipulated period.
“Some parties won’t even field governorship candidates down to Houses of Assembly if the candidates’ names were not in the party’s register three weeks before the primaries,” Haruna said.
The warning follows the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment restoring provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to party membership registers and candidate nomination.
The apex court overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act.
The restored provisions restrict participation in party primaries to members listed in the register submitted to INEC.
They also require political parties to use the submitted register and provide that a party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period may be prevented from fielding candidates.
Haruna said INEC would consult its legal experts on the certified copy of the Supreme Court judgment before making a formal pronouncement.
He said the commission expected to clarify its position by Tuesday next week.
The INEC warning did not name any particular political party or candidate as being affected by the provisions.
Meanwhile, several political parties have defended their nomination processes following the Supreme Court ruling, amid growing attention to compliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The development places renewed focus on the importance of party membership registers as political parties prepare for the nomination of candidates for the forthcoming elections.
