2027: INEC announces date to release final list of Gov, Assembly candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will release the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on October 10, 2026. This revelation came during a world press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday by INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. The publication of the final list is expected to be a crucial milestone in the electoral commission's preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Political parties are expected to have officially confirmed their candidates for the state-level contests by this date. INEC provided updates on several aspects of the electoral process, including the number of registered political parties, the voter register, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), election technology, and funding. Out of the 22 registered political parties, 21 have nominated candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

These parties have submitted a total of 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates, along with 9,692 candidates for various State House of Assembly seats. The final list is anticipated to include any withdrawals, substitutions, or other changes that may have occurred during the nomination process. The commission previously published the personal details of the nominated candidates as required by the electoral timetable. As of now, the final list for the National Assembly candidates was released on September 12, 2026.