Parties Face October 24 Deadline Over Omitted 2027 Candidates

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​ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has provided formal clarification regarding the exclusion of certain candidates from the final list for the upcoming 2027 governorship elections, linking the omissions directly to a landmark Supreme Court judgment on political party membership registers.

​In a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body explained that its actions strictly reflect compliance with the apex court’s ruling delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026).

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​The legal tussle stemmed from an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal, which had nullified provisions of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. Those sections mandate political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC as a fundamental prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries. However, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s ruling, upholding both the constitutionality and mandatory nature of Section 77(5)–(7).

​Crucially, the apex court validated Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required political parties to submit their official membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. The court ruled that any political party failing to meet this statutory obligation automatically forfeits its eligibility to sponsor candidates for the elections.

​”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,” the statement read.

​INEC, however, clarified that the final list for the Presidential and National Assembly elections had already been published on September 12, 2026—thirteen days before the Supreme Court handed down its verdict, sparing those lists from immediate retroactive adjustments under this specific litigation.

​To address grievances arising from the sweeping enforcement, the commission has drawn attention to Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026. Under this provision, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted are granted a 14-day window from the publication date to formally notify the Commission.

​INEC stressed that the final deadline for receiving such complaints or notifications is October 24, 2026.

​Reiterating its institutional stance, the electoral commission reassured the Nigerian public of its unwavering dedication to transparency, strict adherence to the rule of law, and the overarching credibility of the electoral process as the nation counts down to the 2027 general elections.