The commission will publish candidates’ personal particulars for public scrutiny as parties move closer to the February 6, 2027 state-level elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission will on Saturday, August 29, 2026, display the personal particulars of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates nominated by political parties for the February 6, 2027 elections, giving voters and other stakeholders an opportunity to scrutinise the information submitted by contestants.

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The exercise, which will take place at INEC offices and designated constituencies, is part of the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and is intended to promote transparency in the nomination process.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, had confirmed that the particulars of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates would be published on August 29.

“All this is in conformity with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for the publication of these particulars within 21 days of receiving them,” Haruna said. (News Times)

The documents to be displayed are contained in Form EC9 and include candidates’ affidavits, credentials and other personal particulars submitted during the nomination process.

The publication is not, however, the final list of candidates for the elections.

INEC has made a similar distinction in its handling of the presidential and National Assembly nominations.

When those candidates’ particulars were displayed on August 1, the commission clarified that political parties could still withdraw or replace candidates within the period permitted by law. (The Nation Online)

The same principle applies to the governorship and State House of Assembly contests, meaning the August 29 exercise should be viewed as a stage in the nomination process rather than the conclusion of candidate substitutions.

The development comes as political parties move deeper into preparations for a crucial electoral cycle. The governorship election will be held in 28 states, while State House of Assembly elections will take place across all 36 states.

The governorship contests are scheduled for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto.

Eight states will not hold governorship elections in 2027 because their governors were elected during different electoral cycles. They are Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo and Kogi.

The staggered arrangement means the political focus will be particularly intense in states where governors elected in 2023 are approaching the end of their constitutional tenure.

The August 29 display also gives members of the public a valuable opportunity to examine the information submitted by aspirants and raise concerns where appropriate.

The process is designed to allow scrutiny before the commission publishes the final candidates’ list.

INEC’s current schedule confirms February 6, 2027, as the date for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, while the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027. (INEC Nigeria)

The commission’s revised timetable followed months of legal and administrative adjustments surrounding the 2027 electoral process.

A Federal High Court ruling earlier in 2026 also challenged some of INEC’s earlier deadlines for the submission of nomination forms, prompting scrutiny of the commission’s timetable against the Electoral Act 2026. (The Guardian Nigeria)

For the governorship and State Assembly contests, the nomination portal had been opened for political parties to submit candidates’ names, personal particulars and other required information.

INEC scheduled the publication of their personal particulars for August 29. (Tribune Online)

The commission has stressed that political parties and candidates must continue to comply with the electoral timetable and relevant legal provisions as preparations gather momentum.

The August 29 exercise will therefore offer one of the clearest early public views of the individuals seeking to shape state politics after the 2027 polls, while leaving room for any lawful withdrawals, substitutions or other changes permitted before the final list is released.

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As the election approaches, the scrutiny of candidates’ qualifications and personal particulars is expected to become an increasingly important part of the electoral conversation, particularly in closely contested states where party nominations are already attracting significant political interest.