INEC sets October 24 deadline for parties to challenge missing 2027 candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to report cases of candidates allegedly omitted from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections.

The commission said the deadline was in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which allows political parties 14 days to notify INEC of alleged errors involving candidates excluded from the list.

INEC announced the deadline in a statement issued on Tuesday evening by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

The announcement comes amid controversy over the omission of several prominent politicians from the commission’s final list of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The 14-day window provides an opportunity for affected political parties to formally notify the electoral body of the alleged omissions in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

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

Also omitted was the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, while the African Democratic Congress in Jigawa State protested the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, and several other candidates.

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

The controversy followed the Supreme Court’s September 24 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 the statement titled, “Clarification on the Omission of Some Candidates from the Final List for the 2027 Governorship Election,” INEC said the apex court had 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.

“The general public is aware of the recent decision of the Supreme Court in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026 delivered on 24th September, 2026,” the Commission said.

The electoral body added that the judgment arose from its appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.

“However, the Supreme Court, in the aforementioned judgement, held that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 are constitutional and mandatory for all political parties,” the statement read.

According to INEC, the court also upheld Item No. 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 said the Supreme Court further held that political parties that failed to comply with the requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for 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,” it stated.

INEC explained that it applied the judgment while finalising the governorship candidates’ list, excluding parties that failed to comply with the membership-register requirements.

INEC said its action was in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce decisions of the courts.

The commission, however, noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment, adding that the deadline for parties seeking corrections to the governorship candidates’ list was October 24.

“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 deadline is 24th October, 2026,” the statement added.

The commission’s 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 assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.

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