Nigeria Supreme Court ruling triggers candidate eligibility disputes

Following a recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the Electoral Act 2026, political tensions are rising in Nigeria over candidate eligibility and party membership registers. The ruling clarified that only party members listed on official registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before a primary election are eligible to vote or be voted for.

In Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, is facing calls for disqualification from the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP). Opponents argue that Chinda’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) created a dual affiliation issue that violates the 21-day registration requirement. However, the Parliament Support Network and APC allies maintain that Chinda complied with all requirements and that the challenges are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, INEC is reviewing the judgment to determine if it will take sanctions against candidates who violated the Act. The commission is working to obtain the certified true copy of the ruling to finalize candidate lists for upcoming elections, facing significant time constraints to meet statutory publication deadlines.