The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an October 24, 2026 deadline for political parties seeking to notify the electoral umpire regarding candidates omitted from the published candidate lists for the forthcoming 2027 governorship elections.
The directive was announced on Tuesday in an official statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Muhammed Haruna Kudu
Haruna clarified that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded have a statutory 14-day grace period from the date of candidate list publication to lodge formal notices of omission.
The announcement addresses mounting concerns across political platforms following the publication of governorship candidate lists. Several political parties—including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other platforms across various states—discovered omitted candidate entries, sparking intense debate regarding party eligibility and inclusion.
Explaining the legal grounding for the omissions, Haruna noted that the commission acted in compliance with a landmark September 24, 2026 Supreme Court judgment (INEC v. Zenith Labour Party). The apex court upheld Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, affirming that political parties that failed to submit their mandatory membership registers within the April 21 to May 10 timetable were legally ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.
While acknowledging the discontent expressed by affected political actors, the electoral umpire emphasized that formal written communication within the designated 14-day window remains the mandatory administrative mechanism to review any genuine errors. Haruna reiterated INEC’s unyielding commitment to transparency, procedural fairness, and adherence to judicial directives throughout the electoral timeline.
With the October 24 deadline fast approaching, leaderships of political parties across the nation—including those in the South-South region—are actively auditing their legal filings and engaging electoral officials to safeguard their candidacy submissions before the statutory window closes.
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