INEC Updates 2027 Governorship, Assembly Candidates’ Lists After 130 Petitions Review

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised the final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections following the review of petitions filed by political parties across the country.

The commission said the review became necessary after complaints emerged over the final candidates’ lists published on October 10, 2026.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC said some petitions were upheld after careful examination, while others were rejected for lacking merit.

According to the commission, the complaints involved the omission of some political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were not in their parties’ membership registers, and cases of alleged multiple nominations.

INEC said candidates and political parties whose petitions were successful have now been restored to the updated lists.

It added that some names earlier published were removed after verification showed that they were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.

The commission also removed candidates whose nominations did not comply with the legal requirements for participation in the elections.

INEC disclosed that it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states for the governorship election, out of which 41 succeeded while 28 failed.

For the State Houses of Assembly election, the commission said it received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states, with 25 petitions upheld and 36 dismissed.

The electoral body said the updated lists of affected candidates, political parties and states would be published on its website.

“Once again, the Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process,” the commission stated.