2027 General Election: INEC Reminds Omitted Candidates of 14-Day Window to File Complaints

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reminded candidates who are aggrieved by the exclusion of their names from the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election that they have fourteen days to notify the commission.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, MOHAMMED KUDU HARUNA, said the deadline for such notification is October 24, counting from the date of the publication of the final list of candidates.

In a statement issued in reaction to complaints trailing the omission of candidates from the final list published by INEC last Saturday, October 10, HARUNA assured that the Commission would remain transparent, observe the rule of law and maintain the credibility of the electoral process.

The INEC National Commissioner noted that the Commission acted based on the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case between INEC and Zenith Labour Party, following an appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which nullified provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 requiring the submission of membership registers as a prerequisite for the conduct of valid party primaries.

He said the Supreme Court, in its judgement, held that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 are constitutional and mandatory for all political parties.

The INEC Commissioner further noted that the apex court upheld the constitutionality of Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which mandated political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

He said the Supreme Court further held that failure to comply with the provisions of the said section of the Electoral Act renders the defaulting political parties ineligible to sponsor any candidate for the election.