The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the omission of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, citing a Supreme Court judgement that disqualified political parties that failed to submit their membership registers.
The commission said the Supreme Court, in its judgement delivered on September 24, 2026, upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which makes the submission of membership registers mandatory for political parties.
In a press statement issued by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Tuesday, INEC said the ruling arose from its appeal against a Court of Appeal judgement that had nullified the provisions.
The commission noted that the Supreme Court also upheld its timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
According to INEC, the court ruled that political parties that failed to comply with the requirement were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the election.
The commission said it applied the Supreme Court’s decision in preparing the final list of governorship candidates, in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
INEC, however, clarified that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement.
The commission said political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify it, in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
It fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for such notifications.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
