Reps Urge INEC to Audit Party Registers, Disqualify Defaulters

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to audit political parties' membership registers and disqualify 2027 election candidates whose names do not appear in them, as required by the Electoral Act 2026.

 

The committee's chairman, Rep. Bayo Balogun (APC-Lagos), made the call in a statement on Tuesday, drawing the commission's attention to the Supreme Court's ruling on Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Act and demanding full enforcement against all political parties.

 

Balogun said the judgment had brought to an end the pending legal proceedings over the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of the sections.

 

He recalled that the Supreme Court, on Sept. 24, restored the provisions after setting aside a Court of Appeal judgment that had declared them unconstitutional.

 

According to him, the apex court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

 

 

The lawmaker explained that Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names are contained in the membership register submitted to INEC are eligible to vote or be voted for at party primaries, congresses and conventions.

 

Section 77(6), he said, requires political parties to use the register submitted to the electoral umpire for such exercises.

 

Balogun urged INEC to proceed without further delay to enforce Sections 77(4) to 77(6) in the administration and monitoring of political parties and their electoral activities.

 

He said the audit should establish whether the names of candidates submitted by the parties are contained in the membership registers earlier submitted to the commission, in compliance with Section 77(5).

 

"This will be a litmus test for the commission; any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified.

 

"Diligent enforcement of the provision would help prevent disputes and reduce the volume of litigation that could arise from alleged irregularities or non-compliance with Sections 77(4) to 77(6) of the Electoral Act," he said.