2027 ELECTIONS: INEC SETS OCTOBER 24 DEADLINE FOR OMITTED CANDIDATES

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties whose candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections until October 24, 2026, to notify the commission of any alleged errors.

INEC said the deadline was in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which allows political parties 14 days from the date of publication to report cases where they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday 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 lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.

Among those reportedly omitted are the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.

Also missing from the list is the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo. Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress in Jigawa State has protested the exclusion of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, alongside several other candidates.

The omissions have sparked protests and demands for clarification from affected political parties and candidates, with some threatening legal action to secure their inclusion.

The controversy follows the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, appeal number 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 said the apex court 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 INEC within the stipulated period and use the registers for their primaries, congresses and conventions.

According to the commission, the Supreme Court’s judgment followed its appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.

INEC said the apex court also 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 added that the court ruled that political parties that failed to comply with the membership-register requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the election.

“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,” the statement read.

INEC explained that it applied the Supreme Court’s ruling when preparing the final list of governorship candidates, excluding parties that failed to meet the membership-register requirements.

The commission said its action was guided by Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires relevant authorities to enforce court decisions.

It, however, clarified 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.

INEC reiterated that political parties seeking corrections to the governorship candidates’ list must notify the commission within 14 days of publication.

“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 statement added.

“The deadline is 24th October, 2026.”

The clarification comes amid growing concerns over the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for political parties and their candidates ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship elections.

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