2027: INEC Explains Why Candidates Were Excluded From Governorship Election List Over Failure to Submit Party Membership Registers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some political parties and their candidates were excluded from the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, citing non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Commission said the decision followed a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case between INEC and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

According to INEC, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primary elections.

The Commission explained that the judgment overturned an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, which had nullified the provisions requiring political parties to submit membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid primaries.

INEC stated that the Supreme Court also upheld Item No. 2 of its Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The electoral body noted that the apex court ruled that political parties that failed to comply with the requirements of Section 77(5)-(7) were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.

Consequently, INEC said it applied the Supreme Court judgment while finalising the list of governorship candidates, excluding political parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements.

The Commission maintained that its action was in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which requires compliance with decisions of the Supreme Court.

INEC further clarified that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

The Commission, however, advised political parties whose candidates were excluded from the governorship list to take advantage of the provisions of Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

According to INEC, affected political parties have 14 days from the date of publication of the final list to formally notify the Commission if they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded.

It announced October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such complaints.

The statement, signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.