INEC Confirms Review of Supreme Court Judgment Affecting Chinda, Omo-Agege

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun reviewing a recent Supreme Court judgment that restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, a move that could influence the eligibility of several candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan announced the review on Tuesday during the commission’s World Press Conference in Abuja.

He said the agency had received complaints from political parties, aggrieved aspirants, and members of the National Assembly about the implications of the apex court’s decision in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party.

On September 24, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The ruling also affirmed INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.

Amupitan explained that the commission only received the certified true copy of the judgment on Tuesday morning and is currently studying it before deciding on further action.

“We have recently received complaints from some political parties, and aggrieved aspirants, and even from the National Assembly, drawing our attention to the recent Supreme Court decision in INEC and Zenit Labour Party, delivered on the 24th day of September, 2026, affirming the constitutionality of Section 77, subsections 5 to 7 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and also upholding our revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election,” he said.

“We only received the certified true copy of this judgement this morning, and it is being reviewed.”

The review has drawn attention because of questions surrounding high-profile candidates who switched parties after their previous parties had already conducted or started nomination processes.

Those whose nominations have come under scrutiny include Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Chinda; Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ovie Omo-Agege; former Cross River State governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke; and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Victor Ochei.

INEC’s assessment is expected to clarify how the Supreme Court judgment affects these candidates, their parties, and preparations for the 2027 polls.