The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the exclusion of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections to their political parties’ failure to submit membership registers within the period prescribed by law.
The clarification follows reactions to the omission of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.
Pantami’s name was missing despite his victory in a court-ordered rerun of the PDP governorship primary in Gombe, while Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, were also excluded from the Ogun list.
The Ogun PDP subsequently accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exerting pressure on INEC, while human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong called on the commission to demonstrate its impartiality.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the exclusions followed the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026.
The commission said the judgment upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period.
The court also upheld the commission’s timetable requiring parties to submit their registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court held that parties that failed to comply with the requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the elections.
The commission said it applied the ruling when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
INEC also noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates were published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.
The commission further stated that Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, allows political parties to notify it if they believe a nominated candidate has been improperly excluded.
It fixed October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such notifications, in accordance with the 14-day period provided by the law.
INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
