Steven Galloway defamation trial begins in B.C. Supreme Court

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced it is reviewing a recent Supreme Court judgment that impacts key electoral provisions for the 2027 general elections. This comes amid growing concerns over the eligibility of several candidates as they prepare to run in the upcoming polls. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, revealed the review during a World Press Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Amupitan stated that INEC had received several complaints from political parties, aspirants, and members of the National Assembly regarding the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in the case between INEC and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The court's ruling on September 24, 2026, upheld the constitutionality of certain sections of the Electoral Act 2026, including sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2), and confirmed INEC's revised timetable and schedule for the 2027 elections.

The commission only received the certified copy of the judgment recently and is currently studying it before deciding the next steps. The review is particularly relevant for several prominent figures who have changed political affiliations following the Supreme Court's decision. Notable among them are Rivers State's gubernatorial candidate, Kingsley Chinda; Delta Central senatorial aspirant, Ovie Omo-Agege; former Cross River State governor and presidential candidate, Donald Duke; and former Delta State House of Assembly speaker, Victor Ochei.