INEC Gives Parties October 24 Deadline to Challenge Missing Names on 2027 Election List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to report cases of candidates allegedly wrongly excluded from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, following a Supreme Court ruling on the requirements for conducting valid party primaries.

The commission said the omission of some candidates was linked to its implementation of the apex court’s judgment, which upheld the mandatory submission of party membership registers under Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

INEC announced the position on Tuesday in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explaining that parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements were excluded from sponsoring candidates.

The statement followed the Supreme Court’s decision in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026. The judgment concerned an appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling that had nullified provisions of the Electoral Act requiring political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries.

According to INEC, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5)–(7) and upheld the commission’s timetable requiring parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The court also held that political parties that failed to comply with the provisions would be ineligible to sponsor candidates in the election, Haruna said.

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He explained that INEC was required to apply the Supreme Court’s decision when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, adding that the commission consequently excluded parties that did not satisfy the membership-register requirement.

The commission, however, noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment 12 days later.

INEC said Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, provides a 14-day window for political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted to formally notify the commission.

October 24 is the deadline for such complaints, and affected parties have been urged to act within the stipulated period.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, adherence to the law and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations continue for the 2027 general election.