INEC EXPLAINS WHY SOME CANDIDATES WERE OMITTED FROM 2027 GOVERNORSHIP LIST, SETS OCTOBER 24 DEADLINE

By NaijaParrot October 13, 2026 

ABUJA, NIGERIA— 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some candidates were omitted from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections, citing a Supreme Court judgment that upheld the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers within the prescribed period. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said it applied the Supreme Court’s decision when preparing the final list of governorship candidates. INEC stated that political parties that failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections. The clarification comes amid growing concerns from political parties and candidates whose names were missing from the commission’s published lists.

INEC referred to the Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026. According to the commission, the apex court upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which establish requirements concerning political party membership registers and participation in party primaries. The court also upheld INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. INEC said the judgment made compliance with these requirements mandatory and confirmed that parties that failed to submit their registers as required would not be eligible to sponsor candidates. The commission explained that it was constitutionally bound to apply the Supreme Court’s decision when finalising the governorship candidates’ list. 

 The commission said it excluded political parties that failed to comply with the membership-register provisions when determining which parties could field candidates. The development has affected the political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, with several parties and candidates questioning their omission and seeking clarification from INEC. Among the cases reported in recent days are the omissions of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Oladipupo Adebutu in Ogun State and Professor Isa Pantami in Gombe State. Their omissions have generated reactions from their camps and party members. However, the commission’s statement did not provide an individual explanation for every omitted candidate. Each affected case must therefore be assessed in light of the party’s compliance status and the circumstances surrounding the nomination. 

 INEC also addressed the legal procedure available to political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded. Citing Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, the commission said affected political parties have 14 days from the date of publication of the relevant list to notify it that a candidate’s name has been omitted. INEC fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such notifications. The deadline provides a formal avenue for parties to raise concerns about omissions in accordance with the law. However, notifying the commission does not automatically guarantee that a candidate will be added to the list; the circumstances must be considered under the applicable legal requirements. 

 INEC explained that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on September 24. The commission highlighted the timing because the lists for those positions had been released before the apex court’s decision. It reiterated that its actions were guided by the legal framework governing the elections and the obligation to comply with court judgments. 

 The commission assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process. The clarification is expected to inform the next steps of parties whose candidates were omitted, particularly those considering formal complaints or other lawful remedies. As the October 24 deadline approaches, affected political parties will need to examine the reasons for the omissions and determine whether they meet the requirements for seeking a review.

  NaijaParrot will continue to monitor INEC’s decisions and developments surrounding the 2027 general elections. 

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