The INEC October 24 deadline has given political parties whose candidates were omitted from the final list for Nigeria’s 2027 governorship elections an opportunity to notify the electoral commission of alleged errors and seek corrections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the deadline in a statement issued on Tuesday evening by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
The commission said the deadline was in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides a 14-day window for political parties to notify it if they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded from the published list.
Among the prominent politicians affected by the omissions are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.
Also missing from the list was the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo. In Jigawa State, the African Democratic Congress protested the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, and several other candidates.
The omissions have triggered protests and demands for clarification from affected political parties and candidates, with some threatening legal action to secure their inclusion.
INEC October 24 deadline: INEC Explains Why Candidates Were Omitted
In a statement titled, “Clarification on the Omission of Some Candidates from the Final List for the 2027 Governorship Election,” INEC explained that the omissions followed the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026.
The judgment upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which govern political party membership registers and their use in party primaries, congresses and conventions.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court upheld the provisions as mandatory for all political parties, including the requirement to submit membership registers within the stipulated period.
“The general public is aware of the recent decision of the Supreme Court in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026 delivered on 24th September, 2026,” the commission stated.
INEC explained that the judgment arose from its appeal against a Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act.
The commission added that the Supreme Court upheld Item No. 2 of its timetable and schedule of activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
It said the court further held that political parties that failed to comply with the statutory requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.
“Furthermore, the court held that failure to comply with the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) renders the defaulting political parties ineligible to sponsor any candidate for the election,” the statement read.
INEC said it applied the Supreme Court judgment when finalising the list of governorship candidates, excluding parties that failed to meet the membership-register requirements.
The commission maintained that its action was consistent with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce decisions of the courts.
However, INEC noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on September 24.
The commission’s clarification comes amid growing concerns about the implications of the ruling for political parties and their candidates ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.
October 24 Deadline Gives Affected Parties Time to Act
Under the INEC October 24 deadline, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from the governorship list have until October 24, 2026, to notify the commission and seek the appropriate corrections.
INEC said the 14-day window provided under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, offers an avenue for affected parties to formally raise their complaints.
“Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission. The deadline is 24th October, 2026,” the statement added.
The deadline is particularly significant for affected politicians, including Pantami, Adebutu and Gwarzo, whose parties face questions over their eligibility to sponsor candidates following the Supreme Court ruling.
INEC assured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.
Political parties affected by the omissions will need to use the prescribed process to notify the commission of their complaints before the deadline expires.
Be the first to comment