The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging a Court of Appeal decision that voided provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party primaries and membership registers.
A seven-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice Adamu Jauro, reserved judgment on Wednesday after hearing arguments from the parties in the appeal, marked SC/CR/495/2026.
“This matter is now reserved for judgment, at a date to be communicated to the parties,” Justice Jauro announced after the hearing.
INEC is the appellant in the case, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) is the respondent.
The legal dispute originated from a suit filed by the ZLP at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 which the party argued were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/509/2026, was heard by the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar.
In a judgment delivered on May 5, 2026, Justice Umar dismissed the party’s action against the disputed provisions.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the ZLP appealed to the Court of Appeal, which subsequently voided the provisions relating to political party primaries and membership registers.
The Court of Appeal’s decision prompted INEC to approach the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgment.
The apex court has now reserved its decision, with a date for judgment to be communicated to the parties.
