{
  "id": 14296952,
  "title": "INEC gives parties October 24 deadline to challenge omitted 2027 candidates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/inec-gives-parties-october-24-deadline-to-challenge-omitted-2027",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T21:38:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/inec-gives-parties-october-24-deadline-to-challenge-omitted-2027-candidates/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24 to challenge the omission of candidates from the final list for the 2027 Governorship elections. This deadline aligns with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which grants a 14-day window for parties to notify INEC of any errors in the candidates' omission. The decision comes amid controversy surrounding the exclusion of several prominent politicians from the list, including the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively. The omissions have sparked protests and calls for clarification from affected parties and candidates, with some threatening legal action to secure their inclusion. The controversy follows the Supreme Court’s September 24 ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which upheld the constitutionality of provisions related to political party membership registers and candidate nominations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "INEC gives parties October 24 deadline to challenge omitted 2027 candidates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/inec-gives-parties-october-24-deadline-to-challenge-omitted-2027-14301879",
        "published": "2026-10-13T22:04:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}