APC Urges INEC to Enforce Supreme Court Ruling on Party Membership Registers
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately enforce the Supreme Court’s judgment on political party membership registers, warning that failure to comply with the law could prevent affected parties from fielding candidates in elections.
The ruling party made the demand in a letter dated October 9, 2026, addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
The APC cited the Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Suit No. SC/CV/495/2026, which addressed statutory requirements for submitting and using political parties’ membership registers during primaries, congresses and conventions.
According to the party, INEC, having participated in the case as the appellant, is constitutionally obligated to implement the judgment in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The APC said the Supreme Court set aside the Court of Appeal’s order nullifying Sections 77(5) to 77(7) and Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, alongside Activity Serial No. 2 of INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 general election.
It maintained that the judgment reaffirmed the binding nature of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions regulating the submission and use of membership registers by political parties.
Section 77(4) requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before their primaries, congresses or conventions. Subsections (5) and (6) stipulate that only members listed in the submitted register are eligible to vote or be voted for, while prohibiting the use of alternative registers.
The APC further cited the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on page 24 of the judgment, arguing that a political party that fails to submit its digital membership register within the prescribed period could face exclusion from fielding candidates.
The party said the provisions were designed to promote internal democracy and ensure that party primaries, congresses and conventions are conducted fairly, transparently and in a verifiable manner.
It also argued that the Supreme Court’s decision was anchored on Section 228(a) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to enact laws aimed at ensuring internal democracy within political parties, with reference to the precedent established in Ardo v. Nyako (2014).
In its demands to INEC, the APC called for an immediate assessment of political parties’ compliance with the statutory deadline for submitting their digital membership registers.
The party also urged the commission to apply the legal consequences of non-compliance where the conditions stipulated under Section 77(7) have been established.
It further requested INEC to ensure that only members whose names appear in the duly submitted registers are recognised as eligible to participate in the relevant internal party elections.
“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 APC stated.
The party warned that allowing political parties to disregard the prescribed requirements without enforcing the penalties provided by law would undermine internal party democracy, electoral transparency and the rule of law.
It therefore called on INEC to act promptly and decisively, insisting that the Supreme Court’s judgment must be implemented in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The APC said strict enforcement of the law was necessary to ensure that political parties comply with the statutory framework governing membership registers ahead of the 2027 general election.
