Supreme Court reserves judgment on INEC’s appeal over Electoral Act 2026 provisions on party primaries and membership registers.
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appeal over the Electoral Act 2026. The case centres on provisions covering political party primaries and membership registers.
A seven-member panel heard arguments from both sides on Wednesday. Justice Adamu Jauro presided over the proceedings.
After hearing the case, Justice Jauro said,
“This matter is now reserved for judgment, at a date to be communicated to the parties.”
INEC filed the appeal against the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The party had challenged parts of the Electoral Act at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The dispute began after ZLP argued that the contested provisions conflicted with the 1999 Constitution. However, Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court dismissed the party’s suit on May 5, 2026. The suit was marked FHC/ABJ/509/2026.
Following that decision, ZLP appealed to the Court of Appeal. The appellate court later voided the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act. That ruling pushed INEC to approach the Supreme Court. The appeal is marked SC/CR/495/2026.
For now, the parties will wait for the apex court to announce its judgment date.
