INEC Awaits S’Court CTC as Candidates, Parties Face Uncertainty Over Final Lists

Uncertainty has continued to surround the fate of political parties and candidates affected by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to disclose how it intends to proceed ahead of the October 10 publication of the final list of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.

The development has heightened anxiety among the affected candidates, as INEC prepares to meet with political parties and other stakeholders on Tuesday.

The Commission said yesterday that it had applied for the certified true copy of the Supreme Court’s latest judgement and was expecting to receive the document today, Monday. The development comes ahead of the Commission’s scheduled national stakeholders’ engagement and World Press Conference.

Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Information and Voter Education Committee, told Vanguard on Sunday that the certified copy had not yet been received.

“The commission is yet to receive the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgement. Hopefully we will do so tomorrow, (Monday). Until we do so and deliberate on it we cannot make any pronouncement on the issue,” he said.

Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, also confirmed that the Commission had made an application for the document.

“The Commission had applied for the CTC and an opinion will be offered on the import of the latest Judgment of the Supreme Court,” she said.

Before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement, INEC had announced on September 23, 2026, that it would organise a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Engagement on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The events are part of the Commission’s ongoing preparations for the 2027 general election.

The Commission has, however, not indicated whether the Supreme Court judgement will form part of the issues to be addressed at the event. It has equally not stated when its official position on the ruling will be made public.

The uncertainty follows the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 ruling on Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026. The apex court overturned the July 16, 2026 decision of the Court of Appeal, which had voided several restrictive provisions of the Act on grounds that they were unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court ruling reinstated the requirement for political parties to submit verified membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before holding any primary, congress or convention. Under the provision, only individuals whose names are included in the submitted register are eligible to vote or contest.

Several parties had conducted congresses and primaries while the Court of Appeal judgement remained in effect. The Supreme Court’s decision has therefore created uncertainty around those processes, with opposition parties reportedly reviewing the membership registers submitted to INEC against the dates on which candidates defected.

For now, INEC’s silence has left questions over the status of candidates whose names have already been published. The Commission says it will only give its position after it receives and studies the Supreme Court judgement.

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