Adebutu, Others Face October 24 Deadline as INEC’s Candidate List Sparks Political Tension
....Electoral commission gives aggrieved parties 14 days to report alleged wrongful omissions
….Supreme Court ruling on membership registers forms basis for exclusion of some parties
Daud Olatunji
The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to formally challenge the omission of their governorship candidates from the final list for the 2027 elections, amid growing tension within affected parties over the exclusion of some aspirants.
The development has heightened concerns among party stakeholders, particularly in political camps affected by the omissions, as the October 24 deadline puts pressure on party leaders to determine their next line of action.
Among those affected by the controversy is the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, whose name has featured in political discussions surrounding the implications of INEC’s final list and the commission’s insistence on strict compliance with electoral requirements.
The commission disclosed the deadline in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
INEC said the deadline was in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties that believe their candidates have been wrongly omitted from the list to notify the commission within 14 days of publication.
The announcement comes amid concerns among affected political parties over the implications of the exclusions, with the development potentially deepening disagreements among party leaders, aspirants and their supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC attributed the omission of some candidates to a Supreme Court judgment affirming the mandatory requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primary elections.
The commission cited the judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026, in which the apex court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
According to INEC, the Supreme Court also upheld Item 2 of its timetable and schedule of activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
The commission explained that the court affirmed that compliance with the provisions was mandatory, adding that political parties that failed to submit their membership registers were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the elections.
INEC said it relied on the judgment in preparing the final list of governorship candidates, excluding parties that failed to satisfy the statutory requirements.
The decision has raised the stakes for affected parties, which now face the task of determining whether to challenge the omissions within the stipulated period or explore other lawful options.
For parties already grappling with internal disagreements, the exclusions could further intensify political rivalries and fuel uncertainty among supporters of affected candidates.
However, the commission’s October 24 deadline provides a window for political parties to formally communicate their grievances over the omissions, subject to the applicable electoral laws.
INEC also clarified that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates were published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on September 24.
It explained that the earlier publication of the federal candidates’ lists preceded the court’s decision, while the governorship candidates’ list was finalised in accordance with the judgment.
The commission further invoked Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires the enforcement of decisions of superior courts of record.
