The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced updates to the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates list. According to INEC, 66 out of 130 petitions challenging the final lists were successful. The commission approved the inclusion of affected candidates and political parties, while rejecting complaints that lacked merit and removing names wrongly published on the final lists. This decision follows a review of complaints, relevant records, and applicable legal provisions. INEC received a total of 130 petitions, with 69 from 12 political parties across 26 states for the governorship elections and 61 from 11 political parties across 11 states for the State Houses of Assembly elections.
INEC provided a breakdown of the petitions received and their outcomes. For the governorship elections, 41 petitions succeeded, while 28 failed. For the State Houses of Assembly elections, 25 petitions succeeded, while 36 were rejected. The commission added that the affected candidates, political parties, and states would be reflected in an updated list on its website. This update aims to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the electoral process. INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) Chairman, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, issued a statement announcing the decisions.
The petitions bordered on the omission of political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from their parties' membership registers, and allegations of multiple nominations. INEC said it found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties, while complaints found to be without merit were declined. The commission's decisions were made after a thorough review of the complaints and relevant records.
INEC's update follows reports that the commission cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections. Their clearance, however, remains subject to the outcomes of pending court cases. INEC also rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Ladi Adebutu, who had sought a review of his exclusion from the candidates' list.
An official of the commission had earlier confirmed the rejection of Adebutu's petition. The Ogun State chapter of the PDP rejected reports surrounding Adebutu's exclusion, describing them as fabricated by political opponents. In a statement dated October 29, the party's Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, insisted that Adebutu remained its authentic governorship candidate despite reports that INEC had rejected his petition.
The Ogun PDP urged its members and supporters to disregard the reports, adding that the party remained united ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The party maintained that no official INEC publication or statement had confirmed Adebutu's exclusion from the 2027 candidates' list. It further insisted that Adebutu remained its legitimate candidate and would appear on the ballot in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process. The commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process. With the updates to the candidates list, INEC aims to ensure a free and fair 2027 general election.
Key points
- 66 of 130 petitions challenging the final lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates were successful.
- INEC approved the inclusion of affected candidates and political parties, while rejecting complaints that lacked merit.
- The updated list of candidates will be reflected on INEC's website.
