The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) explained that some candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections because their parties failed to submit membership registers as required by law. The body referenced a Supreme Court ruling issued on September 24, 2026, which confirmed the constitutionality of the register requirement and held that the provisions are constitutional and mandatory for all political parties.
That judgment, rendered in the case INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, reversed an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated Sections 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act 2026. The Court of Appeal had nullified the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 requiring the submission of membership registers as a prerequisite for the conduct of valid party primaries, but the Supreme Court overturned that position.
Applying the court’s directive, INEC removed parties that missed the April 21-May 10, 2026 deadline for filing their registers. The commission acted in accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Earlier, on September 12, 2026, the commission released the 2027 presidential and National Assembly candidate rosters, a publication that preceded the Supreme Court’s decision. For the governorship contests, affected parties now have until October 24, 2026 to lodge a petition under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act. They must inform INEC of their intent within fourteen days after the list’s issuance.
Among those excluded are Isa Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, who were the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship hopefuls in Gombe and Ogun states respectively. Pantami’s name disappeared after a court-ordered rerun of the PDP primary in Gombe affirmed his victory, while Adebutu and his running mate were also left off the slate. The Ogun PDP has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) exerted pressure on the commission, and lawyer Inibehe Effiong has urged the body to demonstrate its neutrality.
The Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process. The clarification arrived amid public reactions to the removal of high-profile candidates, although the commission has not indicated whether any of the pending challenges will be successful.
