The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify candidates whose names are not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.
The committee said the move was necessary ahead of the 2027 general elections and in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Chairman of the committee, Bayo Balogun, made the call in a statement on Tuesday while drawing INEC’s attention to a recent Supreme Court judgment concerning Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the law.
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Balogun, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment had settled pending legal questions surrounding the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of the provisions.
He said the apex court had restored the provisions after setting aside a Court of Appeal judgment which had declared them unconstitutional.
According to Balogun, the Supreme Court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
He explained that Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names appear in the membership register submitted to INEC are eligible to vote or contest at party primaries, congresses and conventions.
He added that Section 77(6) requires political parties to use the same register submitted to the electoral commission for such exercises.
The lawmaker therefore urged INEC to immediately enforce Sections 77(4) to 77(6) in its administration and monitoring of political parties and their electoral activities.
Balogun said the commission should audit the registers to determine whether candidates submitted by political parties are listed in the membership registers earlier forwarded 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,” Balogun said.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.