The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised its list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. Following complaints from political parties, INEC removed some candidates and approved others. This decision comes after a review of petitions challenging the omission or inclusion of certain candidates. INEC initially published the final lists of candidates on October 10, 2026.
The review process was triggered by complaints over the exclusion and inclusion of some aspirants. Notable cases included former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State; Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State; and Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State. INEC considered these complaints and made changes to the list.
INEC's decision is based on a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. This section makes membership registers mandatory for political parties. The commission also cited Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to give effect to decisions of superior courts. INEC stated that it based its decisions on the law and its established criteria.
INEC received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning the governorship elections. Of these, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected. For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. 25 of these petitions succeeded, while 36 failed. The commission will publish an updated list of affected candidates, parties, and states on its website.
Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee, issued a statement explaining the commission's decision. INEC approved the inclusion of some candidates and political parties, while rejecting others for lacking merit. The commission also removed candidates whose nominations were inconsistent with applicable legal requirements.
INEC's review process resulted in the removal of candidates whose names were wrongly published. Verification showed that these candidates were not listed in the membership registers submitted by their parties. The commission emphasized its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.
INEC reiterated its dedication to upholding the law and ensuring a credible electoral process. The commission will continue to work towards a successful 2027 general election. An updated list of candidates will be published on INEC's website, providing stakeholders with the latest information.
Key points
- INEC revised its list of candidates for the 2027 elections after receiving complaints from political parties.
- The commission removed some candidates and approved others based on a Supreme Court judgment and established criteria.
- INEC received a total of 130 petitions, with 66 successful and 64 rejected, across the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
