WorldStage– The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given a critical lifeline to several prominent political figures excluded from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship elections.
In a statement released by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral umpire gave affected political parties a 14-day window to appeal and notify the commission of any errors regarding the omissions.
The deadline has been explicitly set for October 24, 2026.
The directive follows widespread controversy generated by the publication of the final list on October 10.
The list dramatically excluded heavyweight opposition aspirants, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates Isa Ali Pantami (Gombe State) and Ladi Adebutu (Ogun State).
Also caught in the sweeping omission was Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate for Kano State.
According to INEC, the exclusions stem from a failure by certain political parties to adhere strictly to the statutory framework governing the submission of their membership registers.
The enforcement, according to INEC, aligns with a definitive Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, which restored specific provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Under Sections 77 and 84 of the Act, participation in party primaries is restricted to eligible members whose names appear on formal registers submitted to INEC at least 21 days before the exercises.
Political parties that failed to comply with this requirement effectively invalidated their nomination processes, leading to the omission of their flag-bearers.
However, the commission clarified that Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, allows a 14-day grace period for political platforms to formalise complaints if they believe their nominees were wrongly excluded due to administrative oversight rather than statutory violations.
Political analysts warn that if these high-profile figures fail to secure their inclusion by the October 24 deadline, it could fundamentally disrupt the opposition’s political structures.
Key battlegrounds like Kano and Ogun face a massive shakeup, potentially paving an easier path to victory for the ruling incumbents.
Affected parties are now racing against time to compile the necessary supporting documentation to table their complaints before INEC’s window slams shut.
