- Updated Candidate List To Be Published On Commission’s Website
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 66 out of 130 petitions filed by political parties and candidates seeking corrections to the final lists of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general election, while declining 64 others.
In a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), INEC said the review followed complaints received after the publication of the final lists on 10 October 2026.
The complaints, according to the Commission, concerned the omission of certain political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their parties, and alleged cases of multiple nominations.
“Following a review of the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions, the Commission found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties, while complaints found to be without merit were declined,” INEC said.
The Commission added that some names wrongfully published in the final list were removed after verification showed they were not on the relevant membership registers. It also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with applicable legal requirements.
For the governorship election, INEC said it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states. Forty-one of the petitions succeeded, while 28 failed.
For the State Houses of Assembly, the Commission received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five succeeded, while 36 failed.
INEC said the decisions affecting State Houses of Assembly candidates sponsored by political parties were informed by specific complaints received and determined in accordance with the law and the Commission’s established criteria.
The Commission assured that the affected candidates, political parties and states will be reflected in an updated list on its website.
“Once again, the Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process,” the statement added.
The review is seen as a significant step in the build-up to the 2027 general election, as INEC moves to clean up candidate lists and address disputes arising from party primaries and nominations. NNL.
