2027: Anxiety grips Chinda, Omo-Agege, others as INEC holds stakeholders’ meeting

All eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as they hold a national stakeholders' meeting in Abuja, marking 100 days until the 2027 general elections. The meeting will provide updates on the voters' register, candidate nominations, election logistics, and measures to protect election integrity. Several high-profile candidates who changed parties ahead of the 2027 election may face renewed scrutiny.

The case involves Rivers State Governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, Delta Central Senatorial candidate Ovie Omo-Agege, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei. A recent Supreme Court judgment reinstated key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which had been struck down by the Court of Appeal earlier.

These provisions deal with political party membership registers and candidate nominations. The controversy stems from a Federal High Court judgment in May that invalidated parts of INEC's timetable for the 2027 elections, including deadlines for primaries and submission of membership registers. However, the Court of Appeal overturned this decision in July.

Candidates whose party primaries were held while the affected provisions were inoperative may not be automatically disqualified. A human rights lawyer, Maximus Ugwuoke, explained that the Supreme Court judgment does not automatically invalidate nominations or disqualify candidates. INEC will need to examine the circumstances surrounding each affected nomination before determining the impact of the judgment.