The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will review petitions submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the exclusion of Professor Isa Ali Pantami, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and Ladi Adebutu from the list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections. INEC published the list of candidates on October 10, but the three politicians were not included.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, was excluded as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State despite winning the party's primary election held on September 29. The PDP has petitioned INEC, arguing that Pantami's exclusion was unfair. In Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu and his running mate were also excluded from the PDP list. Adebutu claimed that he registered as a party member within the stipulated timeframe and had his membership card verified.
Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, were excluded as NDC governorship candidates in Kano State. The NDC wrote to INEC, seeking a review of the matter, and claimed that the commission acknowledged receipt of their letter but did not provide a detailed response. INEC attributed the exclusions to a Court of Appeal judgment on September 24, 2026, which upheld sections 77(5), (6), and (7) of the 2022 Electoral Act.
The sections cited by INEC require political parties to submit their members' registration details within a specified timeframe before conducting primaries. According to INEC, the registration period was from April 21 to May 10, 2026. Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act allows parties to notify INEC within 14 days of the publication of the candidate list if they believe a candidate was erroneously excluded.
The deadline for submitting complaints was October 24, 2026, and reports indicate that the affected parties have filed petitions. INEC may take several actions, including reinstating the excluded candidates, leaving them off the list, or requesting additional information or documents. The commission's decision will depend on its evaluation of the parties' submissions and the applicable laws.
If INEC decides to reinstate an excluded candidate, it will update the list of candidates accordingly. However, if the commission confirms that a party failed to meet the legal requirements, it may uphold the exclusion. INEC may also request further documentation or clarification before making a decision. The outcome will be known after the commission's review.
The decisions made by INEC can be challenged in court by the affected parties or other stakeholders. The court's role will be to interpret the relevant laws and determine whether INEC's actions were lawful. The timeline for the court's decision and its potential impact on the 2027 governorship elections remain uncertain.
Key points
- INEC will review petitions on exclusion of Pantami, Gwarzo, Adebutu from governorship race
- Exclusions attributed to Court of Appeal judgment upholding sections of 2022 Electoral Act
- Affected parties may challenge INEC's decisions in court
