The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) has cautioned politicians and the public against accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately excluding governorship candidates whose names are missing from the final list for the 2027 elections.
The coalition said such omissions could arise from court judgments, disputes over party primaries, pending litigation or failure to meet statutory nomination requirements, rather than deliberate actions by the electoral commission.
COCSON made the position known in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Dr. Tabuko Kennedy, following INEC’s publication of the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections.
The group said the publication was an important step in the electoral process, providing political parties, candidates and voters with greater clarity ahead of the polls.
It also commended INEC for adhering to the electoral timetable, saying timely publication of the list could support transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
On the controversy surrounding missing names, the coalition said their absence should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing by the commission.
“The absence of a candidate’s name does not automatically imply deliberate exclusion or wrongdoing by the Commission,” the statement said.
COCSON added that responsibility for some nomination-related problems could lie with political parties or affected candidates, particularly where disputes arose from party primaries or non-compliance with legal requirements.
It urged candidates whose names were missing to seek clarification from INEC and pursue their grievances through the courts rather than make allegations against the commission without establishing the facts.
The coalition, however, maintained that INEC must remain accountable for its actions, stressing that the commission should not be held responsible for issues arising from court orders, party disputes or procedural failures beyond its control.
COCSON also called on politicians and their supporters to refrain from violence, intimidation and hate speech as preparations for the elections intensify.
It urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial, while encouraging political parties and other stakeholders to respect the rule of law and work towards peaceful elections.
