Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has advised candidates whose participation in the 2027 elections may have been affected by the recent Supreme Court ruling on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 to withdraw from the race.
Sani, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, gave the advice in a post on X on Wednesday.
On September 24, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act after overturning a Court of Appeal judgment that had declared the provisions unconstitutional.
The apex court subsequently restored the judgment of the Federal High Court, which had dismissed a suit instituted by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) challenging the provisions.
Although the Supreme Court did not expressly disqualify any candidate, the restoration of the provisions has raised concerns over the eligibility of some candidates, particularly in relation to party membership, defections, membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the processes through which candidates secured their party nominations.
Sani warned candidates affected by the ruling against continuing to expend their resources on campaigns despite the legal implications of the judgment.
He said some of their supporters would continue to encourage them to remain in the contest, but advised them to reconsider their positions.
“If you are one of those candidates affected by the September Supreme Court ruling, you shouldn’t waste your time and resources.
“Your supporters will continue to beat the drums for you to stay in the race but you are heading to nowhere,” he said.
Sani added that his position was informed by his experience as an active participant in electoral contests, rather than that of an analyst or commentator.
“We have the experience of losing and winning elections, not as analysts or commentators but as active, frontline participants; so we know both sides very well,” he said.
