The House of Representatives Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the electoral body to audit candidates presented by political parties for the 2027 general elections and disqualify those whose names are not contained in the membership registers earlier submitted by their parties.
The committee said the proposed audit was necessary to ensure compliance with Section 77(4)-(6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, following the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the validity and constitutionality of the relevant provisions of the law.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Bayo Balogun, made the position known in a letter dated September 30, 2026, addressed to INEC.
Balogun drew the commission’s attention to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and urged it to take appropriate steps to ensure that all registered political parties comply with the provisions of the law.
He recalled that in its earlier response dated July 26, 2026, INEC had expressed concerns over judicial pronouncements and pending proceedings concerning the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of provisions of Section 77.
According to Balogun, the legal position has now changed following the Supreme Court judgment, which he said had removed the uncertainty surrounding Section 77(5), particularly the provision that only members whose names are contained in a political party’s register are eligible to vote and be voted for at party primaries, congresses and conventions.
The committee chair therefore urged INEC to “proceed, without further delay, to fully enforce Section 77(4)-(6) of the Electoral Act, 2026” and ensure that the provisions are given effect in the administration and monitoring of political parties and their electoral activities.
He specifically called on the commission to audit the candidates of all political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections to establish whether the names submitted by the parties are contained in the membership registers earlier submitted to INEC in compliance with Section 77(5).
“This will be a litmus test for the commission and any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified,” Balogun said.
He added that diligent enforcement of the provision would help prevent a fresh wave of litigation arising from alleged irregularities and non-compliance with Section 77(4)-(6) by political parties and their candidates.
