The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated a review of a Supreme Court judgment that reinstated critical provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. This decision comes as concerns mount regarding the eligibility of several candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

During a World Press Conference held in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced that the commission had received the certified true copy of the judgment earlier on the same day. The Supreme Court's ruling, delivered on September 24, 2026, upheld the constitutionality of specific sections of the Electoral Act, including sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2). This ruling also reaffirmed INEC's revised timetable and schedule of activities for the forthcoming elections.

Amupitan revealed that the commission has been approached by various political parties, aggrieved aspirants, and members of the National Assembly, all expressing concerns about the implications of the Supreme Court's decision. He stated, "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 Zenith Labour Party."

The review is particularly significant as it pertains to candidates who have switched political parties after their previous parties had already begun nomination processes. Notable figures in this situation include Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State; Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); and Victor Ochei, the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

As INEC continues to analyze the judgment's contents, the political landscape leading up to the 2027 elections remains uncertain for these candidates. The outcome of this review could have significant implications for their political aspirations and the overall electoral process in Nigeria.