The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to audit political party membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee also called for the disqualification of candidates whose names are not contained in the membership registers submitted to INEC by their respective parties.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Bayo Balogun (APC), made the demand in a statement on Tuesday.
Balogun cited the Supreme Court’s judgment on Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, urging INEC to enforce the provisions fully.
He said the Supreme Court’s judgment had resolved the legal dispute surrounding the interpretation, constitutionality and enforceability of the provisions.
The lawmaker recalled that the apex court, on September 24, restored the provisions after setting aside an earlier Court of Appeal judgment declaring them unconstitutional.
According to Balogun, the Supreme Court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
He explained that Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names appear in the membership register submitted to INEC can vote or contest at party primaries, congresses and conventions.
Section 77(6), he added, requires political parties to use the membership register submitted to INEC for such exercises.
Balogun therefore urged the electoral commission to immediately enforce Sections 77(4) to 77(6) in monitoring the activities of political parties.
He specifically asked INEC to verify whether candidates submitted by political parties are listed in the membership registers previously filed with the commission.
“This will be a litmus test for the commission. Any culpable political party and candidates should be disqualified,” he said.
Balogun said strict enforcement would help prevent electoral disputes and reduce litigation arising from alleged violations of the Electoral Act.
He added that compliance with the provisions would strengthen the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.
