The electoral commission says parties that failed to submit membership registers as required by the Electoral Act were ineligible to sponsor candidates, while affected parties have until October 24 to report alleged omissions.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why some political parties and their candidates were missing from the final list for Nigeria’s 2027 governorship elections, citing their failure to comply with statutory requirements for submitting party membership registers. The commission said its decision followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment that upheld the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026. The clarification comes amid reactions from political parties and candidates whose names did not appear on the published list.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, which govern the submission and use of political parties’ membership registers. The court also upheld the commission’s timetable requiring parties to submit their registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. INEC said the provisions were constitutional and mandatory, adding that parties that failed to meet the requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.
The commission said it applied the court’s decision when finalising the governorship candidates’ list. Its explanation has placed the membership-register requirements at the centre of the dispute surrounding several omissions. The decision has drawn particular attention because some of the affected politicians had already emerged from party primaries, prompting questions from party supporters and political stakeholders about their status ahead of the elections scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Among the prominent names missing from the final list are Isa Ali Pantami, associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, and Oladipupo Adebutu, the party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State. Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano State was also reported among those omitted. The circumstances differ across the affected politicians, and the omission of a name from INEC’s list should be distinguished from any separate legal or internal party dispute concerning nomination and eligibility.
INEC also addressed the timeframe for parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded. Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the commission said affected political parties have 14 days from publication of the list to notify it of alleged omissions. The deadline announced by the commission is October 24, 2026. This provides a formal avenue for parties to raise their concerns, although the outcome of any complaint will depend on the applicable law and the facts presented.
The commission noted that the final lists for presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment. INEC said it acted in line with the court’s decision and the constitutional requirement to enforce judgments. As the controversy continues, affected parties may pursue the available procedures to challenge omissions they consider incorrect. The developments are likely to remain a significant issue in preparations for the 2027 elections, with attention focused on compliance with electoral law and the resolution of disputes before voting begins.
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