The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to release the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The publication is expected to mark another major milestone in the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, as political parties move towards the final stage of the candidate confirmation process for state-level contests.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the planned publication during a world press conference held as the commission entered the final 100-day countdown to the elections. The development was contained in a statement issued by the commission on Wednesday on X.
The electoral body also presented updates on several aspects of its preparations, including the number of political parties that submitted candidates, the voter register, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), election technology and funding.
According to the commission, 21 of the 22 registered political parties fielded candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The parties collectively submitted 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates, while 9,692 candidates were nominated for seats across the various State Houses of Assembly.
INEC had previously released the personal details of the nominated candidates in line with the electoral timetable.
The final candidate list, however, is expected to incorporate withdrawals, substitutions and other adjustments made by political parties during and after the nomination process.
The commission said the final publication would also take into consideration complaints and legal developments arising from the nomination exercise, particularly matters affecting certain candidates and political parties.
INEC disclosed that it received 112 formal complaints from aspirants, candidates and political parties concerning the nomination process.
The complaints reportedly involved alleged unlawful withdrawals and substitutions, inaccuracies in information submitted to the commission and other legal issues.
Amupitan said the commission had investigated and resolved most of the complaints, with the exception of matters that remain pending before the courts.
The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, while the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place earlier, on January 16, 2027.
On the presidential contest, INEC said 18 of the country’s 22 registered political parties submitted a combined 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The commission has already released the final list for the presidential election, while the final list of National Assembly candidates was published on September 12, 2026.
“18 of the 22 registered political parties submitted 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates, while the Final List of Candidates for the National Assembly was published on 12th September 2026. The final list for governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates will be published on 10th October 2026,” INEC said.
The scheduled October 10 publication will effectively conclude the principal phase of candidate-list releases for the various elections under the 2027 general elections timetable.
Meanwhile, INEC is also preparing for a substantial rise in the number of registered voters ahead of the polls.
Amupitan disclosed that the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise resulted in 10,772,421 new registrations.
After verification and a final biometric clean-up of the register, the national voter register has increased to more than 103 million registered voters.
The figure represents a significant increase from the 93,469,008 voters registered for the 2023 general elections.
INEC said the updated register will be displayed for public inspection between October 9 and October 15, 2026.
The display is intended to allow registered voters to verify their information and submit claims or objections where they identify inaccuracies or other concerns.
The commission will also begin the distribution of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards on October 9, with the cards to be made available at Local Government centres for collection by eligible voters.
“The register will be displayed for public scrutiny from 9th to 15th October 2026, while distribution of Phase 1 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Local Government centres will begin on Friday, 9th October,” the commission stated.
The planned PVC distribution forms part of INEC’s broader efforts to simplify voter registration and improve access to election materials ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission has also introduced printable PVC technology, which was tested during the Osun governorship election.
The system is designed to provide an alternative means of obtaining new or replacement voter cards for eligible Nigerians.
As part of its preparations for the 2027 polls, INEC is also strengthening its technological infrastructure.
The commission plans to procure 57,000 additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for use during the general elections.
INEC said the devices are undergoing software and hardware assessments, including biometric calibration and battery optimisation, to improve their reliability during voter accreditation on election day.
Amupitan further disclosed that the commission was working to enhance the electronic management and transmission of election results.
The commission has maintained that its preparations for the 2027 elections are being conducted in accordance with the revised electoral timetable and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan also assured Nigerians and the international community that INEC remained committed to neutrality and the credibility of the electoral process as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
