Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, Adewale Adebayo, has assured members of the party that the recent Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 does not affect the party’s structure or operations.
Adebayo gave the assurance in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, amid concerns in political circles over the implications of the apex court’s September 24 judgment for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which had earlier been voided by the Court of Appeal.
The provisions govern political parties’ membership registers and the nomination of candidates. Sections 77(5) to (7) require parties to rely on the membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of nominating candidates.
The judgment followed an appeal by INEC against an earlier Court of Appeal decision which had struck down the provisions after a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Adebayo, however, said the ruling had no adverse effect on the APM, urging members to remain calm, united and focused on the party’s programmes.
He said, ‘The judgement does not affect the structure, operations and legitimacy of the APM in Osun and across the country.’
According to him, the party remains intact and is fully prepared for the 2027 elections.
He said the APM was working to secure victory for its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as well as its candidates for the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
Adebayo added that the party had put strategies in place to strengthen its grassroots presence across the local government areas of Osun State.
He urged members to intensify mobilisation and remain focused, rather than being distracted by what he described as rumours or misinterpretations of the Supreme Court judgment.
‘We are not affected by the Supreme Court judgement. Our party is intact and we are more determined than ever to deliver for our presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, and all our candidates in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate in 2027,’ he said.
The Supreme Court judgment has generated discussion over the practical implications of the restored provisions for political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 elections, although reports indicate that the ruling did not automatically invalidate nominations already concluded.