{
  "id": 8396704,
  "title": "Electoral Act: Olawepo-Hashim flays INEC for challenging A/Court judgement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/electoral-act-olawepo-hashim-flays-inec-for-challenging-a-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T04:52:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/electoral-act-olawepo-hashim-flays-inec-for-challenging-a-court-judgement/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a prominent figure from the Accord party, has called for the disbandment and restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This demand stems from his belief that INEC has disregarded a recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the Electoral Act of 2026. The Court of Appeal ruled that Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act were inconsistent with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which was amended in 1999. Olawepo-Hashim stressed that the implications of this July 16, 2026, decision are profound, as actions taken by INEC based on provisions later deemed incompatible with the Constitution cannot be upheld. The Court of Appeal's decision followed an appeal by the Zenith Labour Party, challenging provisions related to political party membership registers, candidate nominations, and the Electoral Commission's schedule of activities. The appellate court emphasized that ordinary legislation cannot infringe upon powers outlined in the Nigerian Constitution. Olawepo-Hashim further asserted that reestablishing INEC is crucial for ensuring a transparent and credible 2027 general election, and that all actions taken by the electoral body under the disputed legal framework are null and void until the Supreme Court makes a final decision. He questioned the rationale behind INEC's efforts to sustain provisions declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal, asserting that the Constitution is the supreme law and that INEC is not the Parliament or the constitutional body responsible for making laws. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the appeal on September 16, 2026, and has reserved its judgment, with the decision expected to be communicated to the parties involved.",
  "summary": "A chieftain of Accord, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for the disbandment and reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Olawepo-Hashim premised its call upon what he described as the electoral umpire’s alleged disregard for a Court of Appeal judgment on the Electoral Act, which had voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the […]",
  "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."
}