Supreme Court Ruling: INEC Moves to Clarify Fate of 2027 Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will determine how the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Electoral Act 2026 affects candidates after reviewing the certified true copy of the judgment.

The development has heightened uncertainty among some political parties and 2027 election candidates, particularly those whose nominations could be scrutinised over party membership registers and the procedures used to conduct their primaries.

The Supreme Court, in its September 24 judgment, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which had earlier been struck down by the Court of Appeal. The provisions deal principally with political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.

Under Section 77(5), only members whose names appear on a party’s membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary, congress or convention are eligible to participate in the exercise.

Section 77(6) requires parties to use the membership register submitted to INEC for their primaries, congresses and conventions, while Section 77(7) provides consequences for a party that fails to submit its register within the prescribed period.

Section 84(2), meanwhile, provides for the nomination of candidates through direct primaries or consensus.

The Supreme Court’s decision did not name or automatically disqualify any individual candidate. Questions surrounding particular nominations are expected to depend on the facts of each case, including party membership records, the timing of registration or defection and how the relevant primary was conducted.

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INEC has therefore refrained from announcing a blanket decision on candidates whose nominations could be affected.

The commission is expected to engage political parties and other stakeholders on October 6, while also addressing the issue publicly as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections. INEC is also expected to publish the final list of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates on October 10.

Several candidates have already attracted attention because of circumstances surrounding their party membership or nomination.

Among those mentioned are Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State; Isa Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State; Donald Duke, the PRP presidential candidate; Ovie Omo-Agege, the NDC senatorial candidate in Delta Central; and Victor Ochei, the NDC candidate for Delta North.

In Chinda’s case, questions have centred on the timing of his movement from the PDP to the APC and whether his membership status complied with the restored provisions before the party’s governorship primary.

The Rivers APC has maintained that Chinda registered with the party on April 27, ahead of the May 21 primary, and therefore met the relevant 21-day requirement.

Pantami’s case is also subject to separate legal proceedings. He left the APC for the PDP after withdrawing from the APC governorship primary and subsequently emerged as the PDP’s candidate in Gombe. A Federal High Court ruling in Gombe had already nullified his nomination and ordered a fresh primary, meaning his situation involves issues beyond the Supreme Court judgment alone.

For Omo-Agege and Ochei, attention has focused on their movement from the APC to the NDC and the waivers granted to enable them to contest the NDC nomination exercises. Their cases raise questions about the interaction between party membership, waivers and the restored provisions of the Electoral Act.

Former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, the SDP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, has also insisted that his candidacy remains valid. The SDP has said he had been a member of the party for about three months before its governorship primary.

The key issue for INEC is whether nominations conducted while the disputed provisions were temporarily invalidated will be assessed under the provisions subsequently restored by the Supreme Court.

For now, the Supreme Court judgment should not be interpreted as an automatic cancellation of the affected candidates’ tickets.

The final position will depend on INEC’s review of the judgment, the relevant party records and the specific circumstances surrounding each nomination, as well as any separate court proceedings that may arise.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the commission’s forthcoming clarification is expected to provide greater certainty for political parties, candidates and other stakeholders over the status of nominations affected by the ruling.

Supreme Court Ruling: INEC Moves to Clarify Fate of 2027 Candidates

Adeleke Rejects Ataoja Palace Appointment, Reaffirms Oyebode as Osun Iyaloja-General

OSOGBO — Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed Mrs Oyebode Mary as the Iyaloja-General of the state, declaring that any purported appointment of another person to the position is invalid.

The governor’s position followed an announcement reportedly emanating from the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo concerning the appointment of a new Iyaloja-General.

In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke maintained that the authority to appoint the Iyaloja-General of Osun State rests with the state government.

The governor specifically warned market associations, traders and women across the state against recognising or acting on any announcement of a new Iyaloja-General from any quarter other than the state government.

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According to him, “any announcement from any other quarter including the Osogbo Royal Palace is null and void.”

Adeleke further declared that Mrs Oyebode remains the legally recognised Iyaloja-General of Osun State and continues to enjoy the full backing and recognition of his administration.

The governor urged market leaders and womenfolk across the state to disregard any purported appointment of another person to the position, stressing that Mrs Oyebode remains the duly appointed Iyaloja-General under the authority of the state government.

He also appealed to traditional institutions, organisations and individuals to respect the law and remain within the boundaries of their respective mandates.

Adeleke cautioned against actions capable of creating tension or disturbing the peace of the state, urging all parties involved in the development to exercise restraint.

The governor’s statement could further deepen attention around the authority and processes governing the leadership of market associations in Osun State, particularly amid the conflicting positions attributed to the state government and the Osogbo traditional institution.

Adeleke Rejects Ataoja Palace Appointment, Reaffirms Oyebode as Osun Iyaloja-General

Atiku Challenges Tinubu’s Prosperity Claim, Says Nigerians Can Barely Afford to Live

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria has entered an era of prosperity, saying millions of Nigerians are still struggling to afford basic necessities.

Atiku made the remarks in his Independence Day address on Thursday as Nigeria marked its 66th anniversary, arguing that the economic gains highlighted by the government have yet to translate into improved living conditions for many households.

Tinubu, in his own Independence Day address, said Nigeria had moved from a period of difficult economic reforms into what he described as an era of shared and widespread prosperity. He said the government’s focus was now on lowering the cost of living, creating jobs, expanding production and improving opportunities for Nigerians.

Atiku, however, disputed that assessment, saying the reality confronting ordinary Nigerians was different from the picture presented by the government.

He argued that a reduction in the rate of inflation does not automatically restore the purchasing power lost by households after years of rising prices.

According to Atiku, the current N70,000 minimum wage can purchase about 50 litres of petrol, compared with about 118 litres that the former N30,000 minimum wage could buy in April 2023.

He also cited the rising prices of basic food items, including bread and eggs, as evidence of the pressure facing families.

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The ADC candidate said his approach to reducing petrol prices would include a capped and budgeted production subsidy restricted to petrol refined in Nigeria. Under his proposal, imported petrol would not qualify for the subsidy.

He said the arrangement would have a spending limit, with the cost made public and payments independently audited. He argued that such a policy could reduce pump prices while supporting domestic refining and creating jobs.

Atiku also questioned the Federal Government’s reported cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians, asking how more than 10 million beneficiaries were identified and paid.

He said the government should provide details of the beneficiaries and explain how the funds were disbursed.

The former vice president also raised concerns over Nigeria’s public debt, citing a debt stock of about N166.79 trillion as of the end of June 2026. He criticised the extension of the 2025 budget into 2026 and questioned the management of public resources.

On insecurity, Atiku said Nigerians continued to face threats from armed groups, while farmers in some communities remained unable to access their farms safely.

He also called for greater adherence to the rule of law, raising questions about the continued detention of certain individuals, including Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.

On the case of Nnamdi Kanu, Atiku said the legal process should respect his right to appeal and that the grievances surrounding the case should be addressed through lawful means.

He also criticised the reported arrest of Nigerians over the wearing of T-shirts bearing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go”, arguing that political expression should not by itself be treated as a criminal offence.

Atiku further challenged the administration over its handling of the economy, saying Nigerians had endured substantial hardship following the removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic reforms.

He maintained that the benefits promised from the reforms had not yet been sufficiently felt by ordinary citizens.

The ADC candidate urged Nigerians to remain engaged in the political process ahead of the 2027 general election, calling on voters to protect their votes and participate actively in determining the country’s leadership.

Atiku said the central issue was whether government policies were improving the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly in the areas of food prices, transportation, employment, healthcare, security and household income.

His address came shortly after Tinubu told Nigerians that the government had completed the most difficult phase of its economic reforms and was now focused on translating those reforms into broader prosperity.

The contrasting Independence Day messages highlighted the competing assessments of Nigeria’s economic situation ahead of the 2027 elections, with Tinubu defending the direction of his reforms and Atiku arguing that the hardship experienced by many households remains unresolved.

Atiku Challenges Tinubu’s Prosperity Claim, Says Nigerians Can Barely Afford to Live