Governorship aspirants left out of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) definitive list for the February 6, 2027 elections are expected to receive clarification on their status on Thursday, following a meeting scheduled by the electoral body.
Those affected include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearers in Gombe and Ogun states, Professor Isa Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, respectively.
Punch reported that INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna confirmed on Wednesday that the matter would be discussed during the commission’s forthcoming meeting.
Haruna disclosed that the review of the candidates’ list had been included in the agenda for Thursday’s deliberations.
Other politicians missing from the final register are the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship hopefuls in Kano and Kaduna states, Aminu Gwarzo and Danjuma Laah.
Four additional contestants in Bauchi State were also omitted. They are Abdullahi Yakubu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Musa Zubairu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ahmed Shuaibu of the Action Alliance (AA), and Mohammed Aminu of Accord Party.
The exclusion of the affected politicians from the list released on October 10 has generated controversy, with some parties staging demonstrations and pursuing legal action against the commission.
INEC explained that the affected political organisations failed to submit their membership registers within the period stipulated by law, resulting in the disqualification of their candidates from the electoral process.
The electoral umpire cited a Supreme Court ruling delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The provisions establish the submission of party membership records as a necessary condition for conducting legally recognised primary elections.
According to the commission, the apex court equally validated its election schedule, which directed political parties to provide their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
INEC maintained that parties that failed to comply had lost their entitlement to nominate candidates. It added that Section 287(1) of the Constitution required it to implement judicial decisions.
However, the affected parties have rejected the commission’s explanation, insisting that they complied with the relevant electoral regulations.
The PDP has formally petitioned INEC concerning the omission of Pantami and Adebutu. On October 15, its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, submitted an affidavit to the Federal High Court Registry in Abuja, contesting the exclusion of the two candidates.
The party’s spokesperson, Mohammed Jungudo, warned that the PDP could initiate court proceedings if the disagreement remained unresolved.
Similarly, Ogun PDP Chairman Abayomi Tella expressed confidence that the commission would correct what he described as an administrative mistake and reinstate Adebutu’s name.
An associate of Pantami also stated that the former minister intended to challenge his removal through every available legal avenue. Pantami had secured victory in a court-directed rerun of the PDP primary on September 29. Although his name appeared on INEC’s preliminary list published on August 29, it was absent from the final register.
The NDC has likewise protested the omission of Gwarzo and his deputy, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed that INEC had acknowledged receipt of its correspondence but had yet to provide a substantive response.
Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties had until October 24, fourteen days after the final list was published, to report candidates whose names were improperly excluded.
