Political parties are seeking answers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after some of their candidates were left out of its final lists for Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
According to PUNCH, which reported the disputes on Monday, 12 October, affected parties are seeking corrections or considering legal action. Some have raised concerns about nomination procedures, party leadership disputes, and court cases.
PDP seeks resolution in Ogun and Gombe
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was engaging INEC over the absence of its governorship candidates from the lists for Ogun and Gombe states.
The lists published by INEC contain 13 governorship candidates in Ogun and 16 in Gombe. Neither includes a PDP candidate. The omissions affect Oladipupo Adebutu in Ogun and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami in Gombe.
In a statement reported on Sunday, 11 October, the PDP said it was seeking a resolution under the law and electoral guidelines. It also asked affected candidates and supporters to remain calm while talks continued.
The party’s announcement does not confirm that INEC has agreed to restore the names.
Adebutu maintained that he had fulfilled the requirements for his candidacy, including party membership registration. He also said INEC officials observed the primary election that produced him as the PDP candidate, according to PUNCH.
Omissions in Kano and other states
Premium Times reported on 11 October that Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, nominated by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Kano governorship election, was also absent. INEC’s published Kano list contains 17 governorship candidates, with no NDC candidate listed.
PUNCH also reported that the Action Alliance was considering legal action over missing candidates. Its national chairman, Aare Adekunle Omo-Aje, said on Sunday that the party’s legal team was preparing a formal complaint to INEC.
The party’s plans to challenge the omissions do not mean that a court case has been filed or that the candidates have been restored.
Trivane View
The published lists show whose names are included. They do not, by themselves, explain every omission. Claims by parties and candidates should be checked against INEC’s records and any relevant court decisions.
For voters and supporters, the key point is whether the names are restored through the proper process. Talks, complaints, and promises of correction are not the same as a changed list.
