APC Writes INEC, Demands Enforcement Of Supreme Court Ruling On Membership Registers Ahead Of 2027 Polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately enforce a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the mandatory use of duly submitted political party membership registers for primaries, congresses and conventions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ruling, delivered on September 24, 2026, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Suit No. SC/CV/495/2026, upheld the validity of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 and overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had nullified portions of the provision.

The APC made the demand in a letter dated October 9, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman and jointly signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

The ruling party urged INEC to verify whether all political parties have complied with the statutory requirement to submit their digital membership registers within the prescribed period and to impose the legal consequences on parties found to have violated the law.

According to the APC, Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires every political party to make its membership register available to INEC not later than 21 days before the date fixed for its primaries, congresses or conventions.

The party said Section 77(5) further stipulates that only members whose names are contained in the submitted register are eligible to vote and be voted for in such internal party elections.

The APC also pointed to Section 77(6), which prohibits political parties from using any membership register other than the one submitted to INEC for their primaries, congresses and conventions.

The ruling party said the Supreme Court had made clear that the provisions were mandatory and that non-compliance could carry serious consequences for political parties.

“The practical legal effect of section 77(7) of the Act is that a political party that fails to submit its digital membership register within the prescribed period may be precluded from fielding candidates in the general election,” the APC said, citing the Supreme Court’s judgment.

The party said the Supreme Court’s interpretation demonstrated that the statutory requirements were not optional and were designed to promote internal democracy within political parties.

The APC further cited the apex court’s observation that Section 77 was intended to ensure the fair, transparent and verifiable conduct of party primaries, congresses and conventions.

According to the APC, the Supreme Court relied on Section 228(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to make laws prescribing guidelines and rules to ensure internal democracy within political parties.

The party also cited the Supreme Court’s reliance on the decision in Ardo v Nyako (2014) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1416) 591, which held that although political parties retain the power to nominate candidates, the process cannot be left entirely to the discretion of party officials.

The APC said the Supreme Court specifically observed that political parties had been given sufficient time by INEC to submit their digital membership registers in accordance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026.

“Therefore, there is no justifiable reason for any political party to breach the deadline imposed by law,” the APC said.

The party further invoked Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced throughout Nigeria by all authorities and persons, as well as courts subordinate to the apex court.

The ruling party argued that INEC was particularly bound by the judgment because the electoral commission was itself a party to the case and had appeared as the appellant.

“Accordingly, INEC is under a constitutional obligation, pursuant to section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution as the constitutionally established electoral management body, to give effect to the judgment in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities,” the APC said.

The party consequently requested INEC to immediately enforce the Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party.

The APC also asked the commission to determine whether every political party had submitted its digital membership register within the statutory deadline of at least 21 days before its relevant primary, congress or convention.

The party called on INEC to apply the consequences prescribed under Section 77(7) against parties that failed to comply, including exclusion from fielding candidates where the statutory conditions for such action had been established.

The APC demanded strict enforcement of Sections 77(5) and 77(6), insisting that only candidates and members whose names appeared in the registers duly submitted to INEC should be recognised as eligible to vote or be voted for in relevant internal party elections.

The party also demanded that political parties be barred from substituting or relying on alternative membership registers after submitting their official registers to the electoral commission.

The APC warned that allowing political parties to disregard the provisions of Section 77 without consequences would undermine internal democracy and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“As a political party, we insist that compliance with section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 is not a matter of discretion but a statutory obligation whose interpretation has been authoritatively addressed by the Supreme Court,” the party said.

“Allowing political parties to disregard the prescribed statutory requirements without the application of the consequences stipulated by law would undermine the objectives of internal party democracy, electoral transparency and the rule of law.”

The APC’s demand comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with internal party primaries, congresses and conventions expected to become increasingly important in determining the candidates who will contest the elections.

The ruling party urged INEC to act “expeditiously and decisively” in accordance with the Electoral Act, the 1999 Constitution and the Supreme Court judgment.

The APC said strict implementation of the ruling was necessary to ensure that the statutory framework governing political party membership registers was effectively enforced ahead of the 2027 elections.