The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Tuesday hold a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to mark 100 days to the 2027 general elections, with the eligibility of some high-profile candidates expected to attract attention.
The commission said the meeting will provide updates on the voters’ register, candidate nominations, election logistics and measures to safeguard the integrity of the polls.
The issue of nominations has gained fresh attention following a recent Supreme Court judgment restoring key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 on party membership registers and candidate nominations.
Among the politicians whose candidacies could come under scrutiny are the 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.
In its September 25 judgment, the Supreme Court upheld INEC’s appeal and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act, which had earlier been struck down by the Court of Appeal.
The ruling has raised questions over politicians who defected to new parties after their former parties had concluded, or were already conducting, their nomination processes.
The controversy followed a Federal High Court judgment in May which invalidated parts of INEC’s timetable for the 2027 elections. The court held that INEC could not shorten statutory periods for parties to conduct primaries and submit, withdraw or replace candidates.
However, the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment on July 16 and restored INEC’s timetable, holding that the commission acted within its powers.
The Supreme Court subsequently restored the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.
Although INEC has not indicated that it will announce any candidate’s disqualification at the stakeholders’ meeting, its position on nominations could provide an indication of how it intends to handle cases involving defections, waivers and controversial primaries.
Chinda’s Rivers Candidacy
In Rivers State, attention is focused on Kingsley Chinda, an ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate on May 21, 2026, shortly after the Federal High Court judgment.
The Supreme Court judgment did not expressly disqualify Chinda or any other candidate, and his supporters have maintained that the ruling does not automatically invalidate his nomination.
Omo-Agege, Ochei Cases
In Delta State, Omo-Agege’s candidacy presents another test.
He contested the APC Delta Central senatorial primary in May but lost to Ede Dafinone. He resigned from the party on May 22, joined the NDC and received a waiver to contest its Delta Central primary, which he eventually won through a consensus arrangement.
Questions have now been raised over whether the restored provisions of the Electoral Act could affect his nomination, particularly regarding party membership registers and participation in primaries.
A similar situation applies to Victor Ochei, who left the APC after its nomination process, joined the NDC, received a waiver and secured its Delta North senatorial ticket.
Lawyer: No Automatic Disqualification
Human rights lawyer Maximus Ugwuoke said the Supreme Court judgment does not automatically invalidate nominations conducted while the affected provisions were not in operation.
Speaking on Monday, Ugwuoke said INEC would have to examine each case individually, taking into account the law applicable when the primary was held, the party’s membership register, the procedure followed and relevant statutory timelines.
“The crucial issue is not simply whether INEC will review the candidates’ list, but the legal basis and extent of any such review,” he said.
Ugwuoke cautioned against interpreting the judgment as a basis for a blanket cancellation of nominations.
He said the Supreme Court had restored the statutory provisions but had not automatically invalidated nominations already concluded.
The outcome of INEC’s review will therefore be closely watched by political parties and candidates affected by the judgment as the 2027 elections draw closer.
