Only Registered Members Can Contest — Reps Tell INEC To Enforce Electoral Act

October 6, 2026 Northern Nigeria

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to audit party membership registers and disqualify candidates for the 2027 general elections whose names are not contained in them.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Bayo Balogun (APC), drew the commission’s attention to the Supreme Court ruling on Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and called for full enforcement on all political parties.

Balogun said pending legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of the sections is now over by virtue of the Supreme Court’s judgment.

He recalled that the Supreme Court, on September 24, restored the provisions after setting aside the Court of Appeal judgment that had declared them unconstitutional, holding that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

According to him:
Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names are contained in the membership register submitted to INEC are eligible to vote or be voted for at party primaries, congresses and conventions.

Section 77(6) requires political parties to use the register submitted to the electoral umpire for such exercises.
Balogun urged INEC to proceed without further delay to enforce Sections 77(4) to 77(6) in the administration and monitoring of political parties and their electoral activities.

He said the audit should establish whether the names of candidates submitted by parties are contained in the membership registers earlier submitted to INEC in compliance with Section 77(5).
“This will be a litmus test for the commission; any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified. Diligent enforcement of the provision would help prevent disputes and reduce the volume of litigation that could arise from alleged irregularities or non-compliance with Sections 77(4) to 77(6) of the Electoral Act,” he said.