RismadarVoice Reporters
October 19, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the courts will ultimately determine disputes concerning candidates excluded from its final list for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The commission maintained that its decision to omit certain candidates followed a Supreme Court judgment on political party membership requirements, insisting that aggrieved parties retain the right to seek judicial redress.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explained that the electoral body was implementing its interpretation of the law rather than exercising the powers of a court.
He stressed that INEC would comply with any binding court judgment overturning its decisions.
The controversy followed the commission’s publication of candidate lists on October 9, which excluded several prominent opposition politicians.
Among those affected were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and former Minister Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) also faced exclusions involving its governorship candidates in Kano and Nasarawa states.
INEC attributed the omissions to non-compliance with Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which require political parties to submit membership registers before conducting valid primary elections.
The commission relied on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24 in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party.
Haruna explained that parties were required to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period ending May 10, 2026.
However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Monday Ubani, challenged the interpretation that INEC could automatically exclude candidates without judicial determination.
Ubani argued that the law distinguishes between a political party’s eligibility to sponsor candidates and the personal qualification of individual aspirants.
He maintained that disputes over nominations should ultimately be resolved through the courts.
Meanwhile, affected political parties have begun challenging the omissions, with the NDC seeking the reinstatement of its candidates.
INEC has given political parties until October 24 to submit complaints under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act.
The commission said it would review the petitions while maintaining its commitment to transparency, electoral credibility and compliance with judicial decisions.
The dispute could have significant implications for opposition participation in the 2027 elections.
