The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on an appeal from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging a recent Court of Appeal decision that invalidated specific provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The ruling in question concerns regulations related to political party primaries and membership registers.
A seven-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, conducted hearings on the appeal, which is identified as case number SC/CV/495/2026. The Court of Appeal had issued its ruling on July 16, 2026, voiding Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act.
This appeal follows a legal case initiated by the Zenith Labour Party, which claimed that the contested provisions conflicted with the 1999 Constitution. Specifically, the party argued that these provisions represented an unconstitutional intrusion into the internal mechanisms of political parties.
The Supreme Court will now deliberate on whether to uphold or overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision. A date for the delivery of its ruling will be announced in the future.
