INEC Rejects 28 Governorship, 36 Assembly Petitions Ahead of 2027 Elections

SNOW TV NEWS DESK

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected 28 governorship petitions and 36 State House of Assembly petitions following its review of complaints concerning the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on October 29, 2026, and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission disclosed that it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates.

After reviewing the submissions, INEC approved 41 petitions and rejected 28 for lacking sufficient merit.

For the State Houses of Assembly elections, the commission received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Of these, 25 were successful, while 36 were rejected.

INEC explained that the complaints arose from several issues, including the omission of political parties from the published candidate list, the wrongful inclusion of individuals whose names were absent from their parties’ membership registers, and alleged cases of multiple nominations.

The electoral body said it examined the complaints alongside relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions.

Consequently, some candidates and political parties have been approved for inclusion in the updated list, while others whose nominations failed to satisfy legal requirements or were wrongly published have been removed.

The commission added that the names of affected candidates, political parties, and states would be reflected in the revised lists to be published on its official website.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections

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SNOW TV EDITORIAL ANALYSIS

INEC’s decision highlights the importance of internal party democracy and strict compliance with electoral regulations ahead of the 2027 elections. The rejection of 64 petitions across governorship and assembly contests suggests that several political parties may have encountered procedural or documentation challenges during their nomination processes.

More importantly, the commission’s intervention reinforces the principle that political parties must follow established rules when selecting and submitting candidates.

However, transparency must not end with the publication of revised lists. INEC should provide clear explanations for its decisions to prevent unnecessary controversies, political accusations, and avoidable litigation.

As the 2027 elections approach, the credibility of the electoral process will depend not only on INEC’s decisions but also on its consistency, impartiality, and willingness to ensure that every eligible candidate receives fair treatment.