INEC explains why Adebutu, Pantami and two other governorship candidates were omitted from final list
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why four governorship candidates, including Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, were omitted from its final list for the 2027 elections, sparking protests and threats of legal action from affected political parties.
The candidates are Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Pantami of the PDP in Gombe State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State and Danjuma La’ah of the NDC in Kaduna State.
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An INEC source attributed the omissions to the candidates’ names being absent from electronic membership registers submitted by their parties at least 21 days before their primaries, as required by the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC cites Electoral Act and Supreme Court ruling
The source said the commission had reviewed the provisional candidates’ lists alongside the membership registers following a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24.
The source stated, “Many politicians are negligent and they don’t take matters very seriously. They did not meet the conditions for eligibility as outlined by the law.”
The Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, which set requirements for submitting and using party membership registers and restrict parties that fail to comply from fielding candidates in affected elections.
PDP challenges exclusion as lawyers demand Pantami’s reinstatement
Pantami’s lawyers have challenged his exclusion, arguing in a protest letter dated October 12 that he was a registered PDP member whose details had been submitted to INEC. They also said he won a fresh primary held on September 29 under the commission’s observation.
The PDP has given INEC 48 hours to explain the decision and threatened legal action. Meanwhile, Kaduna NDC chairman Mordecai Ibrahim blamed La’ah’s omission on errors during online submission.
The governorship election is scheduled for February 6, 2027, leaving the affected parties seeking clarification and considering their next steps.