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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party is demanding the full enforcement of the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the submission and utilization of political parties’ membership registers for primaries, congresses, and conventions.
According to the letter dated Oct. 9 and signed by the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Sen. Surajudeen Basiru, the APC is calling for the strict application of legal consequences for non-compliance.
This includes barring any defaulting political party from fielding candidates in general elections.
The appeal follows the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Sept. 24 in the case of INEC v Zenith Labour Party (Suit No. SC/CV/495/2026).
The judgment notably affirmed section 77 of the Electoral Act and overturned a previous Court of Appeal ruling that had declared sections 77(5) to (7), 84(2), and Activity Serial Number Two of INEC’s Revised Timetable for the 2027 general elections unconstitutional.
The APC urged INEC to verify whether every political party submitted its digital membership register within the statutory 21-day period before primaries, as stipulated by section 77(4).
The party pointed to section 77(4) which provides that “each political party shall make such register available to INEC not later than 21 days before the slated date for the party primaries, congresses or conventions.”
Citing the Supreme Court’s interpretation, the ruling party stressed that section 77(7) carries mandatory legal weight, meaning any party failing to meet the deadline should be precluded from participating in general elections.
Furthermore, section 77(5) and (6) dictate that only members whose names appear on the register officially submitted to INEC are eligible to vote or be voted for during internal party exercises.
It added that section 77(5) specifically provided that only members whose names were contained in the register shall be eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions.
“Section 77(6) bars a party from using any register other than the one submitted to INEC,” the party noted.
The APC emphasized that the apex court highlighted internal democracy as the core objective of these provisions.
The court stated that “the objective of section 77 is to ensure that parties adhere to internal democracy through the fair, transparent and verifiable conduct of primaries, congresses and conventions.”
The court further noted that “although the power to nominate candidates resides with the parties, the procedure for the nomination is not left to the whims and caprices of party officials.”
Citing section 287(1) of the Constitution, the party reminded INEC—which was the appellant in the suit—that Supreme Court decisions are binding.
“The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
The party concluded that Supreme Court decisions must be enforced across the federation to preserve electoral transparency and the rule of law.
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