The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some candidates were omitted from the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment on the submission of political parties’ membership registers.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the commission said it applied the Supreme Court’s ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026, while finalising the governorship candidates’ list.
The Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC before conducting valid primary elections.
According to the commission, the court also upheld Item 2 of its timetable for the 2027 elections, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
INEC said the court ruled that political parties that failed to comply with the provisions were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the elections.
The commission explained that, in compliance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, it excluded parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements from sponsoring governorship candidates.
It, however, clarified that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.
INEC further stated that, under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission.
The deadline for submitting such notifications is October 24, 2026.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
