By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved 66 petitions seeking corrections to the final lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates, while rejecting 64 others following complaints from political parties across the country.
The commission disclosed that it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates, with 41 succeeding and 28 rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Of these, 25 were approved, while 36 were rejected.
The commission made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
According to INEC, the petitions followed the publication of the final lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates on October 10, 2026.
The complaints bordered on the omission of some political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from their parties’ membership registers, and alleged cases 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 inclusion of affected candidates and political parties, while those deemed unfounded were rejected.
The commission also removed names that had been wrongfully published after verifying that the affected individuals were not listed in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.
INEC further approved the removal of candidates whose nominations failed to meet applicable legal requirements.
The commission said decisions affecting candidates for State Houses of Assembly sponsored by political parties were based on specific complaints received and determined in accordance with the law and its established criteria..
It added that the names of affected candidates, political parties and states would be reflected in an updated list to be published on its official website.
Reaffirming its commitment to electoral integrity, INEC assured political parties, candidates and the general public that it would continue to uphold transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
