The Accord Party presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for the disbandment and reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission following a Court of Appeal judgment that voided some provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Olawepo-Hashim said the demand was prompted by INEC’s decision to challenge the appellate court’s ruling at the Supreme Court, arguing that the commission should not be seeking to sustain provisions that had been declared inconsistent with the Constitution.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had, on July 16, 2026, voided Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 after an appeal by the Zenith Labour Party. The disputed provisions concern political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.
The judgment held that the affected provisions were inconsistent with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provide for the constitutional rights of political parties in determining candidates they sponsor for elections.
INEC subsequently appealed the decision at the Supreme Court. The apex court, on Wednesday, September 16, heard arguments from the parties before reserving judgment, with a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro saying the date would be communicated to the parties.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Olawepo-Hashim questioned the institutional interest of the electoral commission in defending provisions that had been struck down by an appellate court.
“Of course, INEC can appeal. The issue is not whether it has the right to appeal. The question Nigerians should ask is: what institutional interest does the electoral umpire have in sustaining provisions which a competent appellate court has declared inconsistent with the Constitution?” he said.
He argued that the development raised questions about the independence and credibility of the electoral body, insisting that electoral reform should address weaknesses within INEC rather than focus solely on amending electoral laws.
The Accord candidate urged political parties, civil society groups and Nigerians to support reforms aimed at strengthening the electoral system, saying the country needed an electoral management body capable of guaranteeing transparency, accountability and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.