The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that some candidates have been omitted from the ultimate listing for the 2027 governorship elections as a result of their political events didn’t submit membership registers as required by legislation.
The fee mentioned the choice adopted a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming that political events should adjust to the related provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, to qualify to sponsor candidates within the elections.
INEC gave the clarification in a press assertion on Tuesday, October 13, signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee.
The fee defined that the Supreme Court, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, upheld Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which makes the submission of social gathering membership registers obligatory.
It mentioned the court docket additionally upheld Item 2 of INEC’s timetable for the elections, which required political events to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court dominated that political events that failed to fulfill the requirement have been ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.
The fee mentioned it relied on the judgment when making ready the ultimate listing of governorship candidates, according to Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires compliance with choices of superior courts.
INEC additional clarified that the ultimate lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been printed on September 12, 2026, earlier than the Supreme Court delivered its judgment 13 days later.
It added that political events that imagine their candidates have been wrongly omitted from the listing could notify the fee throughout the interval offered beneath Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
INEC said that October 24, 2026, is the deadline for such notifications.
The fee reaffirmed its dedication to transparency, the rule of legislation and the credibility of the electoral course of.
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