Top Senators, Popular Governorship Candidate Missing as INEC Releases Final List

A source within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly disclosed details surrounding the absence of two prominent senators and a popular governorship candidate from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, elections.

The development comes as the commission prepares to publish the final list of candidates contesting governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections across 28 states.

According to The Nation, INEC is scheduled to release the list on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The alleged omission of the three politicians is expected to attract attention within political circles, particularly as parties and aspirants conclude preparations for the forthcoming elections.

However, the identities of the two senators and the governorship candidate, as well as the specific reasons for their reported absence, could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.

INEC Receives 936 Governorship Candidates

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed during a world press conference and stakeholders’ meeting that 21 of the 22 registered political parties nominated 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 28 states scheduled to hold governorship elections in 2027.

The parties also nominated 9,692 candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections.

The publication of the final list is expected to clarify the status of candidates nominated by the political parties and provide voters with details of those cleared to contest.

Eight States Excluded From Governorship Poll

The 28 states scheduled to hold governorship elections on February 6, 2027, are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto.

The eight states excluded from the February 2027 governorship poll are Edo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Imo, Anambra and Kogi, which operate on separate electoral schedules.

State House of Assembly elections, however, are scheduled to take place across all 36 states.

What the Electoral Act Says

Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to publish the names and addresses of nominated candidates at least 60 days before election day.

Section 32(2) provides that a registered political party that discovers its candidate’s name is missing may notify the commission in writing within 14 days of publication. The party’s national chairman and secretary must sign the notification, and it must be supported by an affidavit.

The deadline to substitute candidates for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections was September 19, 2026, while the deadline to submit nomination forms was September 26.

Further details about the reported omissions, including the identities of the affected politicians and any official explanation from INEC, are still needed to establish the circumstances surrounding the development.