Candidates missing from INEC’s final list for the 2027 governorship elections were omitted following a Supreme Court ruling on political party membership registers, with October 24 set as the deadline for complaints.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the omission of some candidates from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections, attributing the decision to political parties’ failure to comply with statutory requirements on membership registers.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, the commission said the exclusions 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.
The ruling upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which establish requirements governing political party membership registers and their use in conducting party primaries.
INEC explained that the Supreme Court also upheld Item 2 of its timetable for the 2027 general elections, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
According to the commission, the court held that compliance with the provisions was mandatory and that political parties that failed to meet the requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.
The commission said it applied the judgment when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires compliance with decisions of superior courts.
The clarification follows the exclusion of prominent opposition figures, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State. Other affected candidates have also been reported in the media.
INEC noted 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 said the timing was relevant because the lists had been released before the apex court’s decision on the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.
Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC stated that political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission.
It fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such notifications.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, adherence to the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.
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