INEC Explains Exclusion of Some Candidates from 2027 Governorship Election List

Oru Leonard 4

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),has explained the omission of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling on mandatory submission of membership registers by political parties.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Commission said the decision followed the Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026.

INEC explained that the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.

The Commission noted that the 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.

According to INEC, the Supreme Court ruled that political parties that failed to comply with these provisions would be ineligible to sponsor candidates in the election.

The Commission said it applied the judgment in preparing the final list of governorship candidates, excluding political parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements.

It added that the action was taken in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires compliance with decisions of competent courts.

INEC, however, clarified that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

The Commission further drew attention to Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the published list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission.

It stated that the deadline for such notifications is October 24, 2026.

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

The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.