INEC Explains Omission of Some Governorship Candidates from 2027 Election List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the omission of some governorship candidates from its final list for the 2027 elections, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly provisions governing the submission of political party membership registers.

In a press release dated October 13, 2026, and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said the decision followed a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026.

According to INEC, the judgment upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.

Supreme Court Ruling on Party Membership Registers

INEC stated that the Supreme Court upheld Item No. 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 explained that the court ruled that compliance with the statutory provisions was mandatory for all political parties.

It added that parties that failed to submit their membership registers in accordance with the law would be ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

The commission said it relied on the judgment when finalising the list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.

INEC Defends Exclusion of Candidates

The electoral body said its decision to exclude candidates of political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, was based on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law.

INEC also explained that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

The commission’s latest clarification therefore focuses on the application of the judgment to the publication of governorship candidates.

Parties Given Deadline to Challenge Omissions

INEC reminded political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the list that Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, provides a 14-day period from the date of publication to notify the commission.

According to the statement, the deadline for submitting such notifications is October 24, 2026.

The commission urged affected parties to follow the prescribed legal process to address any concerns regarding the omission of their candidates.

Commitment to Electoral Transparency

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The clarification comes amid concerns over the omission of some governorship candidates from the list for the 2027 elections, with affected political parties expected to determine their next steps within the stipulated period.

The commission maintained that its actions were guided by the Supreme Court’s judgment and the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.