{
  "id": 10845746,
  "title": "INEC’s Guidelines, Timetable Meant to Ensure Transparent Conduct of Party Primary, Supreme Court Holds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/inecs-guidelines-timetable-meant-to-ensure-transparent-conduct-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T02:58:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/30/inecs-guidelines-timetable-meant-to-ensure-transparent-conduct-of-party-primary-supreme-court-holds/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court has ruled that the guidelines and timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections do not contravene the 1999 Constitution. The court held that these measures were intended to strengthen internal party democracy and ensure transparent conduct of party primaries. Section 77(5)(6)(7) of the Electoral Act requires political parties to submit a digital register of members to INEC 21 days before party primaries, elections, or conventions. Only members listed in this register are eligible to vote and be voted for. A party that fails to submit the register within the stipulated time will not be eligible to field a candidate for that election. The court dismissed a previous ruling set aside by the Court of Appeal, which stated that Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 disqualifies candidates from contesting general elections if their party fails to submit the register on time. The Supreme Court clarified that this provision does not personally disqualify individuals from contesting elections; it solely affects a party's eligibility to field candidates.",
  "summary": "• Says new laws excludes party which fails to submit register 21 days to pry •Sets aside judgment striking down Section 77(5)(6)(7) , 84(2) of the Electoral Act Alex Enumah",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}