The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to deliberate on Thursday, October 29, 2026, on the exclusion of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, former Ogun State governorship candidate Oladipupo Ladi Adebutu, and other politicians from its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.
INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna disclosed the planned deliberation during an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, saying the commission would consider the matter at its next meeting.
The meeting comes amid growing pressure from affected political parties and candidates seeking to have their names restored to the final list published by the electoral commission on October 10.
Pantami, who is seeking to contest the Gombe State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State, are among the prominent politicians missing from the list.
Also affected is Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, alongside his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso. Danjuma Laah, the NDC’s governorship candidate in Kaduna State, is also among those reportedly affected by the omissions.
INEC’s final list also excluded governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Alliance and Accord in Bauchi State.
The exclusions have triggered protests, requests for clarification and legal moves by the affected parties, which insist that they fulfilled the requirements for nominating their candidates.
INEC has attributed the omissions to the failure of the affected political parties to submit their membership registers within the period prescribed by law.
The commission based its position on the Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party. The judgment upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which regulate party membership registers and participation in primaries, congresses and conventions.
The Supreme Court also upheld INEC’s timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
According to the commission, political parties that failed to comply with the statutory requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.
INEC said it applied the Supreme Court’s decision when preparing the final list, arguing that public authorities were required to give effect to the judgments of competent courts.
However, the PDP has challenged the exclusion of its candidates in Gombe and Ogun states, insisting that it complied with the relevant legal requirements and that the omissions should be corrected.
The party has engaged INEC over the matter and has indicated that it could pursue further legal action if the commission fails to resolve the dispute.
On October 15, the PDP filed an affidavit at the Federal High Court registry in Abuja challenging the exclusion of Pantami and Adebutu and seeking the restoration of their names.
In Ogun State, PDP chairman Abayomi Tella described Adebutu’s exclusion as an error, maintaining that the party had fulfilled the requirements for his nomination.
The party’s leadership has expressed confidence that INEC would review the matter and correct what it considers an unjustified omission.
Pantami’s case has also attracted attention because he emerged as the PDP governorship candidate following a court-ordered rerun of the party’s primary on September 29.
His name appeared on INEC’s provisional list published on August 29 but was missing from the final list released in October.
The NDC has similarly protested the exclusion of Gwarzo and his running mate, saying it had written to INEC and received acknowledgements but had yet to receive a substantive response.
The commission had earlier given political parties 14 days from the publication of the final list to notify it of candidates they believed had been wrongly omitted, in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The deadline expired on October 24.
Thursday’s deliberation is therefore being watched closely by the affected parties and their supporters, who are seeking clarity on whether the commission will revise its list or maintain its earlier position.
The outcome could have significant implications for the PDP’s participation in the Gombe and Ogun governorship elections, as well as the NDC’s contests in Kano and Kaduna states.
INEC has repeatedly said its actions are guided by the law and its commitment to transparency and credible elections. The commission’s decision following the meeting is expected to provide further direction on the affected candidacies.
The 2027 governorship elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, with political parties continuing preparations amid disputes over nominations, candidate eligibility and compliance with electoral regulations.
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