The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has upheld 66 out of 130 petitions challenging the final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The commission also rejected 64 petitions after reviewing complaints from political parties and candidates over omissions, wrongful inclusion of names and alleged multiple nominations.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
He said the commission received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states over the governorship elections. Forty-one were upheld, while 28 were rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, 61 petitions were received from 11 political parties across 11 states. Of these, 25 were successful and 36 were declined.
Haruna explained that the commission examined the complaints alongside relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions.
While some petitions resulted in the inclusion of affected candidates and political parties in the updated list, INEC also removed names that had been wrongly published after confirming that the individuals were absent from the membership registers submitted by their parties.
The commission further approved the removal of candidates whose nominations did not meet the legal requirements.
It said complaints involving State Houses of Assembly candidates were considered individually and determined in line with the law and its established criteria.
The affected candidates, political parties and states will be reflected in an updated list to be published on the commission’s website.
The review followed complaints arising from the final candidates’ lists published on October 10, 2026. INEC had earlier issued a statement on October 13, promising to examine the petitions.
The commission had linked some of the omissions to non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers.
It also referred to the September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, which makes the submission of party membership registers mandatory.
INEC said the review was part of its commitment to transparency and electoral credibility, adding that the petitions were determined based on relevant records and applicable legal provisions.
