2027: INEC gives candidates whose names were omitted 14 days to submit complaints

Following the controversy that followed the release of the final list of candidates for next year’s gubernatorial election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24 to lodge their complaints in relation to the list.

The commission said that parties whose candidates were not included in the final list for the 2027 gubernatorial election must comply by that date with Article 32(2) of the 2026 Elections Act, which gives political parties 14 days to notify them if they believe their candidate was wrongly excluded from the list.

INEC disclosed this in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Voter Information and Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, issued on Tuesday.

The names of several prominent politicians were omitted from the final list of candidates for governor and State Council members published by the commission, a situation that sparked protests and threats of legal action.

Among those missing from the list are the People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami respectively.

Also eliminated was the governorship candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, while the African Democratic Congress in Jigawa State protested the removal of the deputy governorship candidate it supported, Aminu Ringim, and several other candidates.

This controversy follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on September 24 in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labor Party, appeal number SC/CV/495/2026, which upholds the constitutionality of the provisions of the Election Law which regulate the registration of political party membership and the nomination of candidates.

In a statement titled, “Clarification on the Removal of Some Candidates from the Final List for the 2027 Governorship Election,” INEC said the apex court has upheld Articles 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the 2026 Election Law.

The provisions require political parties to submit their membership lists to INEC within a specified time period and use the lists for primaries, congresses and conventions.

“The general public is aware of the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labor Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026 delivered on September 24, 2026,” the Commission said.

The electoral body added that the decision arose from its appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision that overturned disputed provisions in the General Elections Law.

“However, the Supreme Court in the decision mentioned above stated that the provisions of Article 77(5)-(7) of the 2026 Election Law are constitutional and mandatory for all political parties,” read the statement.

According to INEC, the court also upheld Article no. 2 schedule and activity schedule, which requires political parties to submit their membership lists between April 21 and May 10 2026.

The commission said the Supreme Court further ruled that political parties that do not meet the requirements are not eligible to sponsor election candidates.

“Furthermore, the court held that failure to comply with the provisions of Article 77(5)-(7) renders the defaulting political party ineligible to sponsor any candidate in the election,” it said.

INEC explained that it implemented the decision when finalizing the list of gubernatorial candidates, by excluding parties that did not meet the membership list requirements.

INEC said its actions were in accordance with Article 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce court decisions.

However, the commission noted that the final list of presidential candidates and DPR member candidates had been published on September 12 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its decision, and added that the deadline for parties requesting corrections to the list of gubernatorial candidates was October 24.

“Under Article 32(2) of the 2026 Election Law, political parties who believe their candidates have not been included in the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission. The deadline is 24 October 2026,” the statement added.