The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded Aminu Gwarzo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, from its final list of governorship candidates for the upcoming election. The commission did not publicly state a specific reason for the exclusion, but sources indicate the decision is linked to a Supreme Court ruling in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which reaffirmed the validity of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026.
Supreme Court Ruling on Membership Registers
The Supreme Court judgment reinforced a statutory requirement that political parties must submit their membership registers to INEC no later than 21 days before any primary, congress, or convention. Under this provision, only individuals whose names appear in the duly submitted register are eligible to vote or be voted for during internal party processes. The ruling clarifies that this is not a procedural formality but a statutory condition tied directly to candidate eligibility.
Where a party fails to meet this condition, or where a candidate's name does not appear in the submitted register, the candidate's participation in the primary becomes legally questionable. INEC may act on this basis when compiling its final list of candidates for any election.
Gwarzo's Exclusion and Political Implications
Gwarzo's removal from the final list means he cannot contest the governorship election in Kano State on the NDC platform. This development comes at a critical time for the NDC, which had ratified Peter Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections on May 29, 2026, following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on May 2, 2026. The party's performance in upcoming governorship races is now a closely watched matter.
The Supreme Court's position in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party makes clear that compliance with membership register requirements is not optional. Candidates and parties that overlook this requirement risk having their participation nullified at any stage of the electoral process. This ruling sets a precedent that could affect other candidates across the country.
Broader Impact on Electoral Compliance
Political analysts note that this exclusion serves as a warning to all parties contesting elections in Nigeria. The requirement to submit membership registers 21 days before primaries is now firmly established as a statutory obligation. Parties that fail to comply may see their candidates removed from INEC's final lists, as happened in Gwarzo's case.
The NDC has not yet issued an official response to Gwarzo's exclusion. It remains to be seen whether the party will seek legal redress or field a replacement candidate for the Kano State governorship race. The development underscores the importance of strict adherence to electoral laws and could influence how parties prepare for future elections.
