2027 ELECTIONS: INEC Upholds Court Ruling, Removes Names Missing From Party Registers

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reviewed complaints arising from the publication of the final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, approving the inclusion of some previously omitted candidates while removing others whose nominations failed to comply with electoral requirements.

The decision follows the September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which makes the submission of political party membership registers to INEC a mandatory requirement for participating in elections.

The Supreme Court ruling has become a major consideration in the ongoing disputes over the eligibility of candidates nominated by political parties for the forthcoming general elections.

69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates.

INEC had initially published the final lists of governorship and State Assembly candidates on October 10, 2026. However, the exclusion of several prominent politicians, including former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, generated reactions and petitions from affected political parties and their supporters.

At the time, the Commission explained that some candidates were omitted because their names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their respective political parties, in line with the Electoral Act.

INEC subsequently directed political parties that believed their candidates had been wrongly excluded to submit complaints for consideration, with October 24, 2026, set as the deadline for such notifications under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act.

Following its review of the complaints, the Commission announced on Thursday, October 29, that it had approved the inclusion of candidates and political parties whose petitions were found to have merit, while rejecting those that failed to satisfy the applicable legal requirements.

In a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), the Commission explained that the complaints bordered on the omission of political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from membership registers submitted by their parties, and allegations of multiple nominations.

INEC stated that its decisions were reached after examining the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions.

The Commission also confirmed that some candidates whose names had initially appeared on the final lists were removed after verification established that they were not included in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.

It further approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with the law, particularly in cases involving State Houses of Assembly candidates.

Providing a breakdown of the petitions received, the Commission disclosed that it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates.

Of the 69 petitions, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected.

Similarly, 61 petitions were submitted by 11 political parties across 11 states in respect of State Houses of Assembly candidates. INEC approved 25 of the petitions and rejected 36.

Altogether, the Commission considered 130 petitions, approving 66 and rejecting 64.

The outcome represents a significant review of the initial candidates’ lists, with both previously omitted candidates and those whose names were wrongly published affected by the exercise.

Pantami, Gwarzo Cleared as Adebutu’s Petition Fails

In separate reports on the outcome of the Commission’s review, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, and the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, were reported to have secured clearance to contest the 2027 elections, subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.

However, INEC rejected the petition submitted by Ogun State PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the final candidates’ list.

A report by The PUNCH, citing an INEC source, indicated that Adebutu’s petition was rejected because his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to the Commission by the PDP.

The source also explained that Gwarzo’s clearance was affected by an existing court order restraining INEC from publishing his name, making the resolution of the pending litigation relevant to his candidacy.

The Commission’s official statement did not individually identify all the candidates affected by its decisions but said their names, political parties and states would be reflected in the updated lists on its website.

The latest development underscores the growing importance of compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period.

In its September 24 judgment in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the relevant provisions of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act.

INEC subsequently relied on the judgment in reviewing the eligibility and nomination records of political parties and their candidates.

The Commission had also maintained that its actions were guided by Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires relevant authorities to give effect to decisions of superior courts.

With the latest review, political parties and candidates are expected to consult the updated lists to ascertain their status ahead of the 2027 elections.

INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency, compliance with electoral laws and the credibility of the electoral process, assuring Nigerians that complaints were considered based on relevant records and established legal procedures.

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