The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to report alleged errors involving candidates omitted from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections.
INEC said the deadline complies with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which allows political parties 14 days to notify the commission if they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
The clarification follows controversy over the omission of several prominent politicians from the final list of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.
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.
In Jigawa State, the African Democratic Congress protested the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, and several other candidates.
The omissions have triggered protests and demands for clarification from affected parties and candidates, with some threatening legal action to secure their inclusion.
In a statement titled, “Clarification on the Omission of Some Candidates from the Final List for the 2027 Governorship Election,” INEC referred to the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment in INEC v Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026.
The commission said the apex court upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which govern political parties’ membership registers and their use during 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.
INEC explained that the judgment followed its appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the disputed provisions.
“However, the Supreme Court, in the aforementioned judgment, 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 the commission, the Supreme 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.
INEC said the court further ruled that parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates in 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,” the statement added.
The commission said it applied the judgment when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, excluding parties that failed to comply with the membership-register requirements.
It said the action was consistent with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce court decisions.
INEC, however, 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.
It reiterated that parties seeking corrections to the governorship candidates’ list must notify the commission within the prescribed period.
“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 said.
The clarification comes amid concerns over the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for political parties and their candidates ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.