The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to consider complaints concerning several politicians whose names were omitted from its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections.
The affected politicians include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami, who is seeking the governorship of Gombe State, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ladi Adebutu, who is contesting in Ogun State.
The PUNCH reported on 29 October 2026 that INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said the commission would consider the final candidate list at its meeting on Thursday.
The matter has attracted attention because the omissions have prompted protests, complaints and legal moves by affected candidates and political parties.
Other affected politicians include Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, and Danjuma Laah, the party’s candidate in Kaduna State. Several candidates from other political parties in Bauchi and other states have also reportedly been affected.
The commission’s scheduled review is important because the governorship elections are set for 6 February 2027, leaving political parties and candidates with a limited period to resolve nomination disputes.
At the time of the report, the outcome of the scheduled INEC meeting had not been established. It would therefore be inaccurate to state that any of the omitted candidates had been reinstated.
Why were the candidates omitted?
INEC has attributed the exclusions to the failure of the affected political parties to submit their membership registers within the period required by law.
The commission has relied on the Supreme Court’s judgment of 24 September 2026, which upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to INEC’s explanation, the provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries, congresses and conventions.
The commission also said its timetable required political parties to submit their membership registers between 21 April and 10 May 2026.
The Supreme Court judgment was central to INEC’s decision when it prepared the final list of governorship candidates. The commission maintained that it was required to give effect to the court’s ruling.
However, the affected candidates and their political parties have disputed the circumstances of their exclusion. They have argued that they complied with the relevant requirements and asked INEC to correct what they consider wrongful omissions.
The dispute therefore involves both the interpretation and application of electoral law and disagreements over whether the affected parties complied with the relevant procedures.
Pantami and Adebutu challenge their exclusion
Pantami emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State after a court-ordered rerun of the party’s primary election on 29 September 2026.
His name appeared on INEC’s provisional list published in August but was absent from the final list released on 10 October.
The omission raised questions among his supporters about his participation in the 2027 election. His camp indicated that available legal options could be pursued to challenge the decision.
Adebutu, the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, was also omitted from the final list.
The Ogun PDP described the omission as an error and maintained that the party had fulfilled the necessary legal requirements. The party indicated that it was engaging the commission and was prepared to consider further legal action if the matter was not resolved.
The candidates’ cases illustrate the importance of meeting electoral deadlines and ensuring that nomination records comply with the requirements established by law.
At the same time, their complaints require consideration through the appropriate administrative and legal processes rather than assumptions about the eventual outcome.
Other political parties are affected
The dispute extends beyond the PDP candidates in Gombe and Ogun.
Reports identified Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano State and Danjuma Laah in Kaduna State among the politicians whose names were missing from the final list.
INEC also excluded governorship candidates from several political parties in Bauchi State, including candidates associated with the Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, Action Alliance and Accord.
These cases show that the controversy is not limited to a single political party or state.
The commission must assess the petitions in accordance with the applicable law and the evidence submitted by the affected parties. The precise action available in each case may depend on the circumstances surrounding the nomination and the grounds of the complaint.
Electoral law and political accountability
Candidate nomination disputes are an important part of election administration because political parties must comply with legal requirements before their candidates can be included on official ballots.
Membership registers, primary elections and submission deadlines are intended to establish a formal process for identifying eligible party candidates.
When disputes arise, electoral authorities must apply the law consistently and explain their decisions clearly. Political parties, meanwhile, must ensure that their records and nomination procedures satisfy the relevant requirements.
The controversy also highlights the importance of early preparation. Parties that maintain accurate records and observe statutory deadlines are better positioned to avoid disputes that could disrupt their election campaigns.
For voters, uncertainty over candidates can create confusion about who will eventually appear on the ballot. Timely resolution is therefore important for both the parties involved and the wider electoral process.
What happens next?
INEC’s scheduled meeting on 29 October is expected to address the outstanding petitions concerning the omitted candidates.
However, the published report established only that the commission intended to consider the matter. It did not confirm a final decision on whether Pantami, Adebutu or any other affected politician would be restored to the list.
The commission’s eventual position will determine the next steps available to the affected candidates and political parties. Depending on the decisions made and the applicable law, further legal proceedings may remain possible.
As preparations continue for the February 2027 governorship elections, the dispute will remain an important test of the electoral commission’s handling of nomination complaints and the application of the Electoral Act 2026.
For now, the central issue is whether the outstanding complaints can be resolved in accordance with the law before the election process advances further.
