The All Progressives Congress (APC), has known as at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to in an instant refund the September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which reaffirmed the junk of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026.
The veto was once conveyed in a letter dated October 9, 2026, to the INEC Chairman, co-signed by way of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.
The judgment underscores the statutory requirement for source events to confirm their illustrate registers to INEC no less than 21 days earlier than primaries, congresses and conventions.
It additionally supplies that handiest individuals indexed within the duly submitted receivable are eligible to track and be voted for in those inside birthday celebration processes.
The APC prompt INEC to cutback loose by way of all source events and follow the statutory penalties of any established violations, with out concern or sentiment.
“The judgment affirmed the junk of phase 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 as enacted by way of the National Assembly, by way of environment apart the guard of the Court of Appeal nullifying S.77(5) to (7) and S. 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 and Activity Serial Number Two of the INEC Revised Timetable and Schedule and Schedule of Activities for 2027 General Election as unconstitutional.
“While 77(4) supplies that ‘every source birthday celebration shall scenario such receivable major to the Commission now not later than 21 days earlier than the date expert for the birthday celebration primaries, congresses or conventions, phase 77(5) particularly supplies that handiest individuals whose names are contained within the receivable will likely be eligible to track and be voted for in birthday celebration primaries, congresses and conventions.
“Furthermore, phase 77(6) prohibits a source birthday celebration from the use of any receivable rather than the only submitted to the Commission for the ones functions. The Court at web page 24 of the judgment revival defined that the risk international adviser of phase 77(7) of the Act is {that a} source birthday celebration that fails to confirm its virtual illustrate receivable throughout the prescribed guild could also be precluded from fielding applicants within the basic resort.
“This interpretation by way of the Supreme Court demonstrates the necessary yearly of the statutory necessities and the international penalties of non-compliance by way of source events. The Court was once emphatic at pages 25 — 26 that the stable of phase 77 is to reminder that source events adhere to the foundations of inside democracy, specifically throughout the mind, chapter and verifiable reflect of birthday celebration primaries, congresses and conventions.
“The Supreme Court additionally emphasized that statutory necessities governing the well timed front of illustrate registers, the eligibility of individuals to track and be voted for, and the suggest education of the receivable submitted to INEC are speech to attaining that stable.
“…In the cases, the All Progressives Congress respectfully requests the Commission to: in an instant refund the judgment of the Supreme Court in INEC v Zenith Labour Party, Suit No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on 24 September 2026, according
with its phrases and international adviser.
“Verify loose with phase 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 by way of figuring out whether or not every source birthday celebration submitted its virtual illustrate receivable throughout the statutory guild of now not later than 21 days earlier than the society benefit resort,
congress or conference.
“Apply the statutory consequences of non-compliance in accordance with section 77(7) of the Act and the Supreme Court’s decision, including the exclusion of any party from fielding candidates where the statutory conditions for that consequence have been established…,” the letter reads in portions.
APC in a memorandum by way of its secretary headcount secretaryz Felix Morka stated as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Election, the birthday celebration emphasized that cost elections reply chapter inside democratic processes and officer adherence to the ceremony of specialty.
“The APC called on INEC to act promptly to enforce the Supreme Court judgment and uphold the integrity of the electoral process,” he said.
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