The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised political parties dissatisfied with the omission of candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections to notify the commission within 14 days.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said affected parties have until October 24, 2026, to lodge their complaints in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The clarification follows criticism from some opposition parties after the publication of the final list of governorship candidates.
Among those omitted were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Ladi Adebutu and Isa Pantami, respectively.
Haruna explained that the commission acted in compliance with a September 24, 2026 Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC versus Zenith Labour Party, which upheld the legality of provisions requiring political parties to submit membership registers before conducting valid primaries.
According to him, the apex court ruled that failure to comply with Sections 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act renders a political party ineligible to sponsor candidates.
“In finalising the list of governorship candidates, the Commission applied the Supreme Court’s decision and excluded political parties that failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act,” Haruna said.
He, however, noted that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published before the judgment was delivered.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
