INEC Clarifies Omission of Candidates from 2027 Governorship List After Supreme Court Ruling

The Independent National Electoral Commission has clarified why some candidates were left off the final list for the 2027 Governorship election.

In a press statement issued on 13th October 2026, the Commission linked the omissions to the Supreme Court decision in INEC versus Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on 24th September 2026. The case concerned the requirement under Section 77, subsections 5 to 7, of the Electoral Act 2026 that political parties must submit membership registers before they can hold valid primaries.

The Court of Appeal had earlier nullified those provisions. The Supreme Court reversed that finding and held that the sections are constitutional and mandatory for every political party. It also confirmed the validity of Item No. 2 on INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required parties to submit their membership registers between 21st April and 10th May 2026.

The Supreme Court further ruled that any political party which fails to comply becomes ineligible to sponsor a candidate for the election. Acting under Section 287, subsection 1, of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, INEC applied the judgment when it finalised the Governorship list and excluded parties that had not met the membership register requirement.

The Commission noted that the final list of Presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on 12th September 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court gave its judgment.

Under Section 32, subsection 2, of the Electoral Act 2026, any political party that believes its candidate was wrongly omitted has 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission. That deadline falls on 24th October 2026.

Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, signed the statement. INEC assured the public of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.

By A.Ikechukwu