The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed some candidates from the list of those cleared to contest the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections following a review of complaints submitted by political parties.
The commission also approved the inclusion of some previously omitted candidates after examining petitions, party records and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, said the review followed the publication of the final candidates’ lists on October 10.
According to the commission, the complaints centred on the omission of political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from their parties’ membership registers, and allegations of multiple nominations.
INEC said it found merit in some of the complaints and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and political parties. However, petitions that failed to meet the required legal conditions were rejected.
The commission also confirmed that some candidates initially published on the final list had been removed after verification showed that their names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.
The review follows a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment upholding the constitutionality of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The provision requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC.
The commission had earlier explained that the requirement informed the exclusion of some candidates whose political parties failed to submit the necessary registers.
Among the candidates whose omission had attracted attention were Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State; Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State; and Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State.
INEC had previously invited political parties that believed their candidates were wrongly excluded to submit complaints before the October 24 deadline.
Giving a breakdown of the petitions received, Haruna said the commission received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning the governorship elections.
Of the petitions, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five petitions were upheld, while 36 were declined.
The commission said the updated list, containing the names of affected candidates, political parties and states, would be published on its official website.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process, adding that its decisions were guided by the law and established procedures.
