INEC Approves 41 Governorship Petitions, Rejects 28 Ahead Of 2027 Elections

INEC Approves 41 Governorship Petitions, Rejects 28 Ahead of 2027 Elections The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 41 petitions challenging the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections while rejecting 28 others submitted by political parties across the country. The commission also approved 25 petitions concerning candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections, while 36 were unsuccessful. INEC disclosed the figures in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, following a review of complaints received after the publication of the final candidates’ lists on October 10, 2026. According to the commission, it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning the governorship elections. Of the petitions reviewed, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected. For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five petitions were approved, while 36 were unsuccessful. The commission explained that the petitions concerned the omission of political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from membership registers submitted by their parties, and allegations of multiple nominations. Haruna said the commission reviewed the complaints alongside relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions. He explained that petitions found to have merit resulted in the approval of affected candidates and political parties, while those that failed to satisfy the necessary requirements were rejected. INEC also disclosed that some candidates initially included in the final lists had been removed after verification established that their names were missing from the membership registers submitted by their respective political parties. The commission further approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were inconsistent with applicable legal requirements. The review followed concerns over the exclusion of several prominent politicians from the initial candidates’ lists. Among those affected were former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State; Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State; and Abdulsalam Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State. INEC subsequently cleared Pantami following its review, while Adebutu’s petition challenging his exclusion was unsuccessful. Gwarzo’s candidacy also remained subject to pending court proceedings. The electoral commission said the names of affected candidates, political parties and states would be reflected in an updated version of the candidates’ lists on its official website. INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency, compliance with electoral laws and the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. The latest review represents another stage in preparations for the elections as political parties and candidates continue to address disputes surrounding their nominations.