The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the exclusion of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections.
It cited political parties’ failure to comply with statutory requirements for submitting membership registers as reason for the exclusion.
The Commission said its decision was sequel to a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which make the submission of membership registers mandatory for political parties seeking to sponsor candidates in elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission applied the apex court’s decision when finalising the list of governorship candidates.
The verdict was delivered in Independent National Electoral Commission v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, following INEC’s appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The provisions govern the submission and use of political parties’ membership registers in the conduct of primaries, congresses and conventions.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the provisions and affirmed the mandatory nature of the requirements for all political parties.
The apex court also upheld Item 2 of INEC’s timetable and schedule of activities, which prescribed the period for submitting membership registers. The Commission said political parties were required to submit their registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
INEC said the court further held that a political party that failed to comply with the statutory requirements would be ineligible to sponsor candidates for an election.
The Commission said it excluded affected parties when preparing the final list of governorship candidates, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.
It relied on Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires the decisions of the Supreme Court and other superior courts to be enforced by the relevant authorities.
INEC, however, noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.
The electoral body said political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the final list could notify the Commission within the period provided by law.
Citing Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC said affected parties had 14 days from the date of publication of the list to submit their complaints.
It fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of such complaints.
The provision offers an avenue for affected parties to bring their concerns to the Commission within the stipulated period, although any challenge must be considered within the applicable legal framework.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the importance of compliance with statutory requirements governing party membership registers and candidate sponsorship. For political parties preparing for the 2027 elections, failure to meet those obligations could have consequences for their participation in the electoral process.