INEC Sets October 24 Deadline for Governorship Candidate Challenges

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an October 24, 2026, deadline for political parties to challenge the omission of candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections. This 14-day window follows the publication of the list and is mandated by Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The exclusions result from a September 24 Supreme Court ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which determined that political parties must have submitted membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026, to be eligible to sponsor candidates. While INEC applied this ruling to the governorship list, the commission noted that lists for the presidency and National Assembly were published before the judgment.

Several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, have protested the removal of candidates such as Oladipupo Adebutu, Isa Ali Pantami, and Aminu Gwarzo. Some of these affected parties have threatened legal action to reverse the omissions.