2027: INEC Gives Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo, Others 14 Days To Challenge Exclusion

By Opeyemi Adelakun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties whose governorship candidates were omitted from the final list for the 2027 elections 14 days to challenge the decision, fixing October 24 as the deadline for submitting complaints.

The commission announced the deadline in a clarification issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee.

The development affects several politicians, including former communications minister Isa Ali Pantami, linked to the Gombe State governorship race, and Ogun State governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu.

INEC said the exclusions followed a Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026.

According to the commission, the court upheld the constitutionality of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which makes the submission of political parties’ membership registers a mandatory requirement for valid party primaries.

The court also upheld INEC’s timetable requiring parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. Parties that failed to meet the requirement were deemed ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

INEC said it applied the judgment when finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in compliance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The commission explained that the judgment came before the governorship list was finalised, making its application necessary. However, the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its ruling.

INEC cited Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which allows political parties to notify the commission within 14 days of publication if they believe their candidates were wrongly excluded.

It consequently fixed October 24 as the deadline for affected parties to submit their complaints for consideration.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.