The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some candidates were excluded from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, and has given political parties a 14-day window to challenge any omissions.
In a press statement issued on 13 October 2026 by National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026), delivered on 24 September 2026.
The apex court overturned an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026. Those sections require political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for valid primaries. The Supreme Court held that the provisions are constitutional and mandatory, and it upheld Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required parties to submit membership registers between 21 April and 10 May 2026.
The Court further ruled that failure to comply renders a political party ineligible to sponsor candidates. In line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC applied the judgment when finalising the governorship candidate list and excluded parties that did not meet the requirement.
INEC noted that the final lists for the Presidential and National Assembly elections had already been published on 12 September 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court judgment.
Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission. That deadline is 24 October 2026.
