INEC Gives Political Parties October 24 Deadline to Challenge Omission of 2027 Governorship Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to notify it of complaints over the omission of their candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections.

The commission said the deadline was in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which allows political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded to notify the electoral body within 14 days of the publication of the list.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

The clarification followed controversy over the omission of several prominent politicians from the final list of governorship candidates, including the Peoples Democratic Party’s 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, alongside other candidates.

Explaining its decision, INEC said it acted in compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, appeal number SC/CV/495/2026.

According to the commission, the apex court upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers within the prescribed period and use them for their primaries, congresses and conventions.

The court also upheld INEC’s timetable requiring parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

INEC said the Supreme Court held that the requirements were mandatory and that parties which failed to comply were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the affected elections.

The commission explained that it applied the judgment while finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce decisions of superior courts.

It further 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.

INEC urged affected political parties to notify it of any alleged errors within the stipulated period, stressing that the deadline for complaints is October 24.

The development 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 reiterated its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.