The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties whose candidates were omitted from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections until October 24, 2026, to notify the commission of the alleged errors.
INEC said the deadline was in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides a 14-day window for political parties to report cases in which they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded from the published list.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday evening by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, amid controversy over the omission of several prominent politicians from the final list of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.
Among those reportedly missing from the list are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.
Also reportedly omitted was the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo. In Jigawa State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) protested the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, alongside several other candidates.
The omissions have prompted protests and calls for clarification from affected political parties and candidates, some of whom have threatened to pursue legal action to secure their inclusion.
Supreme Court Judgment Behind INEC’s Decision
The controversy followed the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, which upheld the constitutionality of provisions of the Electoral Act governing political party membership registers and candidate nominations.
In a statement titled “Clarification on the Omission of Some Candidates from the Final List for the 2027 Governorship Election,” INEC explained that the apex court had upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers to the commission within the stipulated period and use the registers for their primaries, congresses and conventions.
INEC stated that the Supreme Court’s decision arose from an appeal against an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.
According to the commission, the Supreme Court held that Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, were constitutional and mandatory for all political parties.
The commission quoted the judgment as stating that failure to comply with the provisions rendered defaulting political parties ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.
Parties That Missed Membership Register Deadline Affected
INEC further explained that the Supreme Court upheld Item 2 of its timetable and schedule of activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
The commission said it applied the court’s decision when finalising the list of governorship candidates, excluding parties that failed to comply with the membership register requirements.
It added that the action was consistent with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires relevant authorities to enforce decisions of the courts.
However, INEC noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on September 24.
October 24 Deadline for Complaints
The commission reminded political parties that Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, provides a 14-day period from the date of publication for parties to notify it if they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded from the list.
INEC therefore fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for affected political parties to submit their complaints concerning the governorship candidates’ list.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for political parties and their candidates ahead of the governorship elections scheduled for February 6, 2027.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, adherence to the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
You can get every of our news as soon as they drop on WhatsApp ...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
