10 Key Takeaways From The Supreme Court Ruling On Party Membership Registers

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on 24 September 2026, clarified important rules on political party membership registers and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, outlining what political parties must do to nominate candidates in line with the law.

Here are 10 key takeaways from the judgment:

1. The Supreme Court restored four provisions of the Electoral Act.

The court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2), which deal with party membership registers and candidate nominations.

2. Only registered party members can participate in primaries.

Only members whose names appear on the party register submitted to INEC within the required period can participate in the relevant primaries, congresses or conventions.

3. Parties must use the membership register submitted to INEC.

Political parties must use the official register submitted to INEC for their nomination processes. They cannot simply switch to a different or altered list.

4. Parties that fail to submit their registers risk losing the right to field candidates.

A party that fails to submit its membership register within the legal deadline may become ineligible to field candidates in the election.

5. A party’s violation does not automatically disqualify every member.

The court distinguished between a political party’s failure to follow the law and an individual candidate’s personal eligibility to contest an election.

6. Meeting the requirements for an office is not enough.

Even if a candidate meets the constitutional requirements for an office, problems with the party’s membership register or nomination process could affect the candidate’s participation.

7. Parties must follow the prescribed nomination methods.

Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods political parties can use to select their candidates.

8. INEC says parties that violate the law will face consequences.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said parties that failed to meet the legal requirements would not be allowed to field affected candidates.

9. INEC says affected candidates cannot simply be replaced.

Haruna said parties should not be allowed to replace candidates affected by the violations. He argued that parties should not benefit from breaking the law. This is INEC’s stated position on implementing the judgment.

10. The ruling could affect the 2027 elections.

Political parties must ensure that their membership registers and nomination processes comply with the law. Disputes involving particular candidates will depend on the relevant legal procedures and the facts of each case.