# Nigeria Electoral Act Supreme Court litigation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-electoral-act-supreme-court-litigation > Updated: 2026-10-04T05:30:12.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. The Nigerian Supreme Court has issued a unanimous judgment restoring key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, reversing a July Court of Appeal decision that had declared certain sections unconstitutional. The ruling reinstates mandates for political parties to submit membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within specific timeframes and requires the use of direct primaries or consensus for candidate nominations. This judicial decision has triggered significant political and legal disputes regarding candidate eligibility. Specifically, the ruling clarifies that only party members listed on official registers submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary election are eligible to vote or be voted for. This has led to challenges in Rivers State, where opponents of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda argue his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) violated registration requirements. Following a September 24, 2026, judgment that resolved a legal challenge by the Zenith Labour Party, INEC has released its final candidate lists for the 2027 elections. The lists include several prominent figures, such as former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, and former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda. The inclusion of these individuals confirms the application of the reinstated Sections 77(5)–(7) and 84(2), which mandate that only members on registers submitted 21 days prior to internal party processes are eligible for nomination. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-04: Supreme Court restores key Electoral Act provisions in Nigeria The Nigerian Supreme Court restored key sections of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding party membership registers and candidate nominations, creating legal uncertainty ahead of the 2027 elections. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/supreme-court-restores-key-electoral-act-provisions-in-nigeria ### 2026-09-28: Nigeria Supreme Court ruling triggers candidate eligibility disputes A Supreme Court ruling on the Electoral Act 2026 has sparked eligibility disputes in Nigeria, specifically targeting Rivers State APC candidate Kingsley Chinda and prompting INEC to review candidate compliance. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kingsley-chinda-faces-disqualification-calls-for-rivers-apc-governorship-seat --- Cite as: Nigeria Electoral Act Supreme Court litigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-electoral-act-supreme-court-litigation