The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended its decision to exclude some political parties’ candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections, citing a Supreme Court ruling on party membership registers.
The commission said it excluded candidates whose parties failed to comply with statutory requirements under the Electoral Act 2026, following the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on September 24.
The omissions include Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Isa Pantami in Gombe State. Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the New Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate in Kano State, was also reported missing from the list.
Supreme Court Ruling Behind the Exclusions
In a statement issued on October 13, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC national commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission acted in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party.
The ruling upheld Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers within the prescribed period and use them for 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.
According to INEC, parties that failed to comply with these requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the elections. The commission said it applied the ruling when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Why National Assembly Candidates Were Not Excluded
INEC explained that the final lists for presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.
The governorship candidates’ list, however, was finalised after the ruling, which the commission said it was required to apply.
The explanation comes amid concerns from affected politicians and parties about the omissions and whether corrections are possible.
Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted may notify INEC in writing, supported by an affidavit, within 14 days of the list’s publication.
INEC has fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for such notifications.
Affected Parties Face a Deadline
The commission’s decision has prompted questions about how the membership-register requirements were applied to individual parties and candidates.
INEC has maintained that it is implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling and has urged affected parties to use the procedure provided by law if they believe an omission was incorrect.
The controversy comes ahead of the 2027 elections, with the governorship polls scheduled for February 6, 2027.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, compliance with the law and the credibility of the electoral process.
