INEC May Clarify Status Of Chinda, Haske, Ex-IGP, Pantami’s Candidacies Tuesday

Indications emerged on Friday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will address critical issues surrounding the 2027 general election, including questions about the eligibility of some governorship candidates, at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6.

The event, organised to mark 100 days to the first ballot of the 2027 general election, will be addressed by the chairman of the commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.

INEC has invited political parties, the media, security agencies, civil society organisations, religious leaders, development partners, members of the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to the meeting.

Among the candidates whose status has attracted attention are Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State; Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State.

Also attracting attention is Abdulrahman Bashir Haske, the All Progressives Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, whose candidacy has featured in discussions about the interpretation and application of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The status of the candidates has generated considerable interest among political parties and other stakeholders following the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

A source in the commission told LEADERSHIP that INEC’s position following its review of the Supreme Court judgment might be made public at Tuesday’s press conference.

The source said the commission had been studying the judgment and that the event would provide an opportunity for INEC to communicate its position to political parties, the media and other stakeholders.

“Of course, the commission will speak on this key issue and others on Tuesday. Our legal team has submitted its report on it, and I’m sure the chairman would speak on it that day,” the source said.

INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, had earlier told LEADERSHIP that the commission would review the Supreme Court judgment after obtaining the Certified True Copy (CTC) before making a decision.

On September 24, 2026, the Supreme Court restored four provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that had earlier been nullified by the Court of Appeal.

The provisions — Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) — relate principally to political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates for elective positions.

The seven-member panel of the apex court allowed INEC’s appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgment, holding that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

Section 77(5) concerns the membership register to be used for party primaries, while Sections 77(6) and 77(7) deal with the use and submission of such registers. Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of nominating candidates by political parties.

The judgment has since generated differing interpretations among political parties and candidates whose political histories involve movement from one party to another.

While some interpretations suggest that the judgment could affect candidates who participated in the primaries of one party before defecting to another and securing fresh tickets, the affected candidates and their supporters have disputed such interpretations.

In the case of former IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, his campaign organisation has maintained that the judgment does not disqualify him. Similarly, the PDP in Gombe State has insisted that Pantami remains eligible to contest on its platform.

In Adamawa State, Haske’s supporters have also rejected suggestions that the legal developments automatically invalidate his candidacy.

Tuesday’s engagement is therefore expected to provide further clarity on how INEC intends to implement the Supreme Court judgment and whether it has implications for any of the candidates whose nominations have come under scrutiny.

Beyond the candidates’ eligibility and the Supreme Court judgment, security and funding for the 2027 elections are also expected to feature prominently at the meeting.

The commission had earlier expressed concerns about the security situation ahead of the elections and called for adequate funding to enable it to discharge its responsibilities in conducting the 2027 general election.

With the electoral timetable entering a critical phase, Tuesday’s World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting is expected to provide political parties, candidates, the media and other stakeholders with updates on INEC’s preparations for the first ballot, as well as clarification on outstanding legal and electoral issues ahead of the 2027 polls.