The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained that the exclusion of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections followed a Supreme Court ruling affirming the mandatory requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers.
INEC said political parties that failed to comply with the requirement were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The commission disclosed this in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
It said the decision followed the Supreme Court judgement in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026.
According to the commission, the apex court upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.
INEC stated that the court also upheld Item 2 of its timetable and schedule of activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
The commission added that the Supreme Court ruled that political parties that failed to meet the requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.
It explained that, in compliance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, it applied the apex court’s decision while finalising the list of candidates for the governorship elections.
INEC, however, clarified that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement.
The commission further stated that political parties that believed their candidates had been wrongly omitted could notify it of their complaints in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
It said the deadline for submitting such notifications was October 24, 2026.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
