The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that some candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship election because their political parties failed to comply with the requirement to submit membership registers before conducting valid primaries. The commission said the decision followed a September 24, 2026,…...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that some candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship election because their political parties failed to comply with the requirement to submit membership registers before conducting valid primaries.
The commission said the decision followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
No fewer than four candidates were dropped from the final list.
These are Isa Ali Pantami, Gombe State People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate; Oladipupo Adebutu, Ogun State PDP candidate; Abdulsalam Gwarzo, Kano State Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate; and Danjuma La’ah, Kaduna NDC candidate.
Social Democratic Party (SDP) also said four of its candidates were omitted from the final list.
Since the release of the list, there has been outcry and apprehension in the camps of affected political parties and candidates.
The PDP yesterday gave INEC 48 hours to give reasons for the omission, failing which it would unveil the next line of action.
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INEC however, in a press statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Tuesday, October 13, said the Supreme Court ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, upheld Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers as a condition for conducting valid primaries.
According to INEC, the apex court also upheld its timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
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“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 said.
INEC explained that it applied the Supreme Court’s decision when finalising the list of candidates for the governorship election, excluding political parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements.
“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 with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, in relation to fielding of candidates,” the commission stated.
The electoral body, however, noted that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment 13 days later.
It added that political parties seeking to challenge the omission of their candidates from the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission.
“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 added.
INEC assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.