By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, saying the action was in compliance with a Supreme Court judgement.
INEC gave the clarification in a press statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on October 13, 2026.
The Commission said the Supreme Court, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026 delivered on September 24, 2026, held that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 are constitutional and mandatory.
According to INEC, the Court of Appeal had earlier nullified the section which requires political parties to submit membership registers as a prerequisite for valid primaries, but the apex court overturned that decision.
The Supreme Court also upheld Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which mandated parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026, and ruled that failure to comply makes a party ineligible to sponsor candidates.
“In accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission, while finalizing the list of candidates for the Governorship election applied the above decision of the Supreme Court and excluded political parties that failed to comply,” INEC said.
The Commission noted that the final list for Presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court judgement.
It added that political parties who feel their candidates were wrongly excluded have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission, in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The deadline is October 24, 2026.
INEC assured of its commitment to transparency, rule of law and credibility of the electoral process.
