The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the inclusion of some candidates and political parties in the final list for the 2027 general elections following its review of complaints and petitions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The updated list covers candidates contesting governorship, State Houses of Assembly and National Assembly seats.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, October 29, and signed by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

The commission explained that the latest decision followed an examination of complaints submitted by political parties after the publication of the final lists of governorship and State Assembly candidates.

According to INEC, the petitions bordered on the omission of certain political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from their parties’ membership registers, and allegations of multiple nominations.

The electoral body said it examined the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions. While some petitions were approved, others were dismissed for lacking merit.

INEC also announced the removal of candidates whose names were wrongly included in the published list or whose nominations failed to satisfy the relevant legal requirements.

For the governorship election, the commission received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states. Out of the total, 41 petitions were successful, while 28 were rejected.

Similarly, 61 petitions were submitted by 11 political parties across 11 states for the State Houses of Assembly elections. INEC approved 25 of the petitions and dismissed the remaining 36.

The commission stated that the updated list, containing the names of affected candidates, political parties and states, would be made available on its official website.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.

The full statement reads:

“Further to its Press Statement of 13th October, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform political parties, candidates and the general public of the outcome of its consideration of complaints received following the publication of the final lists of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates on 10th October, 2026.

“The complaints concerned the omission of certain political parties, the wrongful inclusion of candidates of political parties whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties, and instances of alleged multiple nominations.

“Following a review of the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions, the Commission found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties, while complaints found to be without merit were declined. In addition, some names that were wrongfully published in the final list were removed after verifying that their names were not on the register.

“The Commission also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with the applicable legal requirements. In particular, the decisions affecting State Houses of Assembly candidates sponsored by political parties were informed by specific complaints received and determined in accordance with the law and the Commission’s established criteria.

“In summary, a total of 69 petitions were received from 12 political parties across 26 states for the governorship election. Forty-one of the petitions succeeded while 28 failed. Similarly, for the State Houses of Assembly, 61 petitions were received from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five succeeded while 36 failed.

“The affected candidates, political parties and states will be reflected in the updated list on the Commission’s website.

“Once again, the Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.”

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has claimed that approximately 90 per cent of politicians currently occupying public offices in Nigeria would not have secured their positions if democracy were practised properly.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okorocha made the assertion during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, where he argued that many political officeholders were not genuinely elected by the people.

He spoke while reacting to the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which nullified Governor Hope Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the winner of the May 18 primary election.

“If democracy is practised the way it should be practised, 90% of people holding office in Nigeria cannot hold office,” Okorocha said.

The former governor alleged that many candidates were imposed on voters instead of emerging through credible electoral processes.

“Most of them are not truly the choice of people. These are people who are imposed, opportunists, who find their way,” he stated.

Okorocha maintained that the significance of the court judgment extended beyond his personal political ambition, arguing that it raised broader concerns about the credibility of party primaries.

“My joy is not on the basis that I was declared a winner, but for the fact that so many misinformations paraded in the news media,” he said.

He further insisted that the evidence supporting his position was overwhelming, adding, “The facts are too glaring.”

When asked about conflicting figures released from the primary election, including one document that reportedly credited Uzodimma with 230,464 votes and Okorocha with 1,098, while another showed Okorocha with 150,780 votes, the former governor referred to documents he claimed to have obtained from INEC.

He said he collected certified copies of the documents from the electoral commission on July 22, 2026, and questioned the appearance of another document dated August 22, 2026, which he associated with Uzodimma.

Meanwhile, Uzodimma has vowed to appeal the court judgment.

However, Okorocha insisted that his concern was not simply about being declared the winner of the primary but about protecting the interests of the electorate.

“It’s about the people,” he said.

The CAF Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the biennial format, reversing a decision reached last year.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, had earlier hinted at the possibility of the change during the organisation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, where he disclosed that the committee would reconsider its previous decision.

The initial plan to move AFCON to a four-year cycle was linked to CAF’s proposal to introduce a new Africa Nations League (ANL), a pan-African competition expected to replace the existing biennial tournament.

However, concerns emerged within CAF over the financial prospects of the proposed competition and the length of time it might take to generate sufficient revenue to support the growth of African football.

Explaining the decision to reverse the earlier arrangement, Motsepe said the committee was concerned about how long the proposed Africa Nations League would take to make a significant financial contribution to the continent’s football development.

“We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition … could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting,” Motsepe said.

He added that the decision was taken to safeguard the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players representing clubs outside the continent.

According to him, the move is aimed at “advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa.”

Following the return to the two-year schedule, the next AFCON edition will hold in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament.

Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The three-year gap between the 2028 and 2031 tournaments is linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Under FIFA’s established practice, the final stages of continental national team competitions are not organised in a World Cup year.

Motsepe also stressed that AFCON represents more than a football tournament, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate the continent’s diverse cultures and unite people across Africa.

“The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together,” he said.

He noted that the competition brings together people from Africa’s 54 countries, the diaspora and beyond.