By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the omission of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship election, attributing the decision to a recent judgement of the Supreme Court.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said that the commission applied the apex court’s decision in finalising the list of Governorship candidates.

He recalled that the Supreme Court delivered its judgement in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, on 24th September 2026.

According to him, the decision arose from the commission’s appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which had nullified Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

He noted that the provisions requires political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.

Haruna said the Supreme Court, in its judgement, held that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 were constitutional and mandatory for all political parties.

He noted that the court specifically upheld the constitutionality of Item No. 2 of the commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 26 and May 10.

The national commissioner added that the court further held that failure to comply with the provisions rendered a defaulting political party ineligible to sponsor any candidate for the election.

“In accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission, while finalising the list of candidates for the Governorship election, applied the above decision of the Supreme Court,” he said.

He explained that, as a result, political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 were excluded from fielding candidates in the Governorship election.

Haruna further stated that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on Sept. 12, thirteen days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement.

He reminded political parties that, under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, a party that believes its candidate was wrongly left off the list has 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission, with Oct 24 as the deadline.

The national commissioner reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.