The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released a statement on Tuesday clarifying the reasons behind the exclusion of specific candidates from the final candidate list for the upcoming 2027 governorship elections.
The commission advised political parties which believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list to notify it within 14 days from the date of publication with October 24 2026 deadline.
INEC was reacting to the decision of theSupreme Court in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026 delivered on 24th September, 2026 on the appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 requiring the submission of membership registers as a prerequisite for the conduct of valid party primaries.
INEC National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna in a statement said
while finalizing the list of candidates for the Governorship election, the commission applied the decision of the Supreme Court and excluded political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, in relation to fielding of candidates.
Haruna said the apex court held that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 are constitutional and mandatory for all political parties.
He said, “In particular, the Court upheld the constitutionality of Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which mandated political parties to submit their membership registers between 21st April and 10th May, 2026.
“Furthermore, the Court held that failure to comply with the provisions of Section 77 (5)-(7), renders the defaulting political parties ineligible to sponsor any candidate for the election.
“In accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission, while finalizing the list of candidates for the Governorship election applied the above decision of the Supreme Court and excluded political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, in relation to fielding of candidates.
“Meanwhile, the final list of Presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on 12th September, 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement.
“Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission. The deadline is 24th October, 2026.
“The Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.”
What You Should Know
Following a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the Electoral Act, INEC has removed political parties that failed to submit their mandatory membership registers within the stipulated time frame from the governorship race. Affected parties have been given a strict 14-day window ending October 24, 2026, to challenge any omissions or correct discrepancies.
- Positive Impact: Reinforces adherence to the rule of law and electoral guidelines, promoting transparency and strict compliance among political parties.
- Potential Concerns: Could lead to legal battles, confusion, and the exclusion of major political actors if parties fail to meet the tight deadline to address the omissions.
