INEC Reviews Supreme Court Judgment Affecting Chinda, Omo-Agege, Others
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a review of the recent Supreme Court judgment on some provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that may affect political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the Commission’s world press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Amupitan said INEC had received complaints and concerns from political parties, aspirants and members of the National Assembly over the implications of the apex court’s decision in the case between the Commission and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
On September 24, the Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, and also affirmed the validity of INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 polls.
The INEC Chairman stated that the Commission received the Certified True Copy of the judgment on Tuesday and immediately began studying it to determine the steps required for its implementation.
The judgment has generated reactions among political stakeholders, particularly regarding politicians who defected to other parties after nomination exercises had commenced or been concluded in their former parties.
Among those whose eligibility and nomination status have come under scrutiny are Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda; Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ovie Omo-Agege; former Cross River State Governor and PRP presidential candidate, Donald Duke; and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Victor Ochei.
The affected sections of the Electoral Act deal with party membership records, internal party procedures and candidate nomination.
Amupitan indicated that INEC has not yet taken a final decision on the individual cases brought before it, adding that the Commission will issue further clarification after concluding its review of the judgment.
