The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission against a Court of Appeal decision voiding provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party primaries and membership registers.

The appeal, marked SC/CR/495/2026, followed a suit filed by the Zenith Labour Party at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging provisions of the new Electoral Act which the party argued were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

A seven-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, reserved judgment on Wednesday after hearing arguments from the parties.

Justice Jauro said the date for the judgment would be communicated to the parties.

The original suit, marked FHC/ABJ/509/2026, was dismissed by the Federal High Court in a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar on May 5, 2026.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the ZLP appealed to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

On July 16, the appellate court allowed the appeal in part and voided provisions of the Electoral Act concerning party membership registers and the methods political parties could use to nominate candidates.

The affected provisions include Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

Sections 77(5) to 77(7) concern statutory requirements for political parties’ membership registers, while Section 84(2) deals with direct primaries or consensus as methods for selecting candidates.

INEC subsequently approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision.

The commission is the appellant in the case, while the ZLP is the respondent.

The Supreme Court’s eventual decision will determine whether the disputed provisions remain void or are restored, with implications for political party membership records and the conduct of party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.