INEC SETS OCTOBER 24 DEADLINE FOR PARTIES TO CHALLENGE OMITTED 2027 CANDIDATES

By NaijaParrot October 14, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to notify it if they believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections. The commission announced the deadline following a Supreme Court judgment upholding the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers within the period prescribed by law.

In a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission explained that it applied the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party when finalising the governorship candidates’ list. According to INEC, the Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which make the submission of political party membership registers a mandatory requirement. The court also upheld INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. INEC said parties that failed to comply with these provisions were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections. 

 The omissions have generated reactions from political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 elections. Among those reportedly missing from the final governorship list are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates Oladipupo Adebutu in Ogun State and Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State. The omissions have prompted protests and calls for clarification from affected political camps. 

 INEC cited Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which allows political parties to notify the commission within 14 days of publication if they believe a candidate was wrongly omitted. The commission fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such notifications. However, notifying INEC does not automatically guarantee that an omitted candidate will be reinstated. Any complaint will have to be considered under the applicable legal provisions. 

 The commission said it acted in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires compliance with decisions of superior courts. INEC also noted 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. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process. With the October 24 deadline approaching, affected political parties will need to notify INEC within the stipulated period if they want the commission to consider their complaints. 

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