INEC: October 24 Deadline for 2027 Candidate Challenges

• INEC has set an October 24, 2026, deadline for political parties to challenge omissions from the 2027 Governorship election candidate list.
• The deadline is based on Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, allowing a 14-day window for notification of alleged errors.
• Several prominent candidates, including PDP's Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, were omitted, sparking protests.
• These omissions stem from a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party that upheld Sections 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
• The Supreme Court ruled that parties failing to submit and use membership registers as required are ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

The Commission explicitly stated that any political party failing to adhere to the requirements of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, is rendered ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set an urgent deadline of October 24, 2026, for political parties to formally challenge any alleged errors in the final list of candidates for the upcoming 2027 Governorship elections. This directive comes amidst significant controversy surrounding the omission of several prominent political figures from the published list, prompting protests and demands for clarification from affected parties. The commission's announcement, delivered via a statement on Tuesday evening by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, specifically addresses concerns over candidates believed to have been wrongly excluded.

This 14-day window for notification, as stipulated by Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, is crucial for parties seeking to rectify what they perceive as wrongful exclusions. Among the notable omissions are Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, who were slated as governorship candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun and Gombe states, respectively. Similarly, Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate for Kano State, was also absent from the list. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa State has also voiced strong objections, highlighting the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, alongside other candidates. These exclusions have led to threats of legal action from various political entities aiming to secure their candidates' inclusion.

The backdrop to these widespread omissions is a pivotal Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, identified by appeal number SC/CV/495/2026. This landmark ruling upheld the constitutionality and mandatory nature of Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. These provisions are central to Nigeria political party membership register compliance, mandating that political parties submit their membership registers to INEC within a specified timeframe and subsequently utilize these registers for their internal primaries, congresses, and conventions.

The Supreme Court's decision effectively reversed a prior ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had previously nullified these critical provisions of the Electoral Act. In its judgment, the apex court unequivocally affirmed that the requirements outlined in Section 77(5)-(7) Electoral Act 2026 are not merely advisory but are constitutional and binding on all political parties. Furthermore, the Court specifically endorsed Item No. 2 of INEC's timetable and schedule of activities, which had set the period between April 21 and May 10, 2026, for political parties to submit their membership registers.

INEC has clarified that its application of this Supreme Court judgment directly informed the finalization of the INEC 2027 governorship election candidate list, leading to the 2027 Nigeria election candidate disqualification of several individuals. The Commission explicitly stated that any political party failing to adhere to the requirements of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, is rendered ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election. This non-compliance with the mandatory submission and use of membership registers was the basis for excluding certain parties and their candidates.

The Commission's actions are rooted in its constitutional obligation under Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which compels all authorities to enforce the judgments of courts. Therefore, the current INEC October 24 deadline 2027 candidate challenge is not merely a procedural formality but a critical window for parties to address omissions, particularly in light of the stringent compliance standards now reinforced by the Supreme Court. The integrity of the INEC 2027 governorship election candidate list is directly tied to parties' adherence to these membership register regulations, making urgent review and potential legal action by the deadline paramount for affected candidates and their legal representatives.

Lawyers representing political parties or candidates must urgently review the final list for the 2027 Governorship elections and, if applicable, file challenges regarding omitted candidates by the October 24 deadline. This action must consider the Supreme Court's recent upholding of Electoral Act Sections 77(5)-(7) on membership registers, which is now a critical determinant for candidate eligibility and a key compliance exposure for political parties.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch