INEC Publishes 2027 Candidate List: Omo-Agege, Chinda, Adamu Among Those Included
By PAULINA NZERUBE
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, featuring several prominent politicians whose eligibility had faced scrutiny following disputes over party membership registers and nomination procedures.
Among those listed are former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, Senator Saliu Mustapha, Senator Shehu Buba and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei.
Their inclusion comes amid heightened political uncertainty following a 24th September Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and candidate nominations. The ruling restored provisions requiring parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before their primaries, congresses or conventions. It also addressed who may participate in party nomination exercises and the consequences of non-compliance.
Several politicians had changed party affiliations after losing primaries or amid internal party disputes. Consequently, questions arose over whether their new parties had complied with the relevant nomination requirements and whether their candidacies would appear on the final list.
However, the legal implications vary according to the circumstances of each case. The Supreme Court’s ruling does not mean that every politician who changed parties after a membership-register deadline is automatically disqualified. Rather, compliance with the statutory requirements, the circumstances of each nomination and any applicable legal proceedings remain important.
INEC officials had also indicated that the commission was reviewing the implications of the Supreme Court judgment after receiving a certified copy. The publication of the final list has now clarified which candidates the commission has included for the relevant contests, although inclusion alone does not necessarily resolve every possible legal challenge.
The development is significant across several states, including Nasarawa, Rivers, Delta, Bauchi and Kwara, where prominent politicians are preparing for competitive elections under different party platforms.
With the 2027 elections approaching, attention will now turn to campaign preparations, party organisation and any further legal disputes that may arise. Ultimately, the final candidate list marks an important stage in the electoral process, but the wider contest will depend on compliance with electoral law, political mobilisation and voters’ decisions at the polls.
