The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved a total of 66 petitions and rejected 64 others following a review of complaints arising from the publication of the final candidate lists for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. The decision follows an evaluation of petitions regarding omitted political parties, candidates wrongfully published without being on official membership registers, and allegations of multiple nominations.
According to a press statement released by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body acted under relevant legal provisions, including Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which granted political parties 14 days following the initial October 10 final list publication to report wrongful exclusions or irregularities. During the review process, INEC upheld valid claims, included affected candidates and parties, and removed individuals whose nominations breached legal criteria or failed register verification.
Out of 69 petitions submitted by 12 political parties across 26 states for the governorship race, 41 succeeded while 28 were declined. In the State Houses of Assembly category, 61 petitions were received from 11 political parties across 11 states, resulting in 25 successful outcomes and 36 rejections.
The review follows strict adherence to recent legal benchmarks, notably a Supreme Court ruling affirming Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which makes the submission of verified party registers mandatory for candidate eligibility. High-profile exclusions initially stem from register non-compliance and procedural errors, affecting candidates across major political parties.
INEC confirmed that updated candidate lists incorporating these determinations will be uploaded to its official website, reiterating its commitment to electoral transparency and legal compliance ahead of the 2027 polls.
