The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 66 petitions and rejected 64 others following a comprehensive review of complaints regarding the publication of candidate lists for the 2027 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The decisions were disclosed in a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna,National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC).
The review followed complaints arising from the Commission’s October 10 publication of the final list of candidates. The grievances spanned the omission of certain political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from submitted party registers, and alleged instances of multiple nominations.
For the governorship election, INEC received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states, with 41 petitions being upheld while 28 were dismissed following verification. Similarly, for the State Houses of Assembly elections, the electoral body considered 61 petitions submitted by 11 political parties across 11 states, approving 25 while declining 36.
INEC stated that its review of the applicable legal framework and internal records led to the reinstatement of affected candidates and political parties whose petitions proved valid. Conversely, candidates wrongfully published or whose nominations failed to meet statutory guidelines and party membership requirements were removed from the official roster.
The Commission affirmed that the updated lists reflecting these changes for affected candidates, political parties, and states will be published on its official website.
Reiterating its commitment to standard practice, INEC assured the public of its determination to uphold transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to the law in managing the 2027 electoral process.
