The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections on its website. The list includes 18 presidential candidates, such as President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Other notable candidates include Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, listed under the Allied Peoples Movement.
The release of the final list has sparked mixed reactions, particularly with the omission of prominent opposition figures. Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, is not on the list. Similarly, Ogun State PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and Kano State NDC governorship candidate, Aminu Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano, are also missing. Their political camps are reacting to the development.
In Gombe State, Pantami's absence from the list has raised questions. He had emerged as the PDP's candidate in a fresh governorship primary conducted after a court ruling invalidated his earlier nomination. Despite winning the rerun with 2,024 votes, his name and that of the PDP were absent from INEC's published list of governorship candidates for the state. Pantami's spokesperson, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, has urged supporters to remain calm, describing the development as a temporary challenge.
The Ogun State PDP has accused the APC of mounting undue pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu from the final list. The party alleged that the ruling party feared losing the governorship election. The PDP maintained that Adebutu remained its duly nominated candidate and expressed confidence that his name would eventually be published by INEC. According to the party, Adebutu had registered as a party member, obtained a printed membership card, and undergone verification before submitting the required information to INEC.
The omissions have drawn attention to disputes surrounding party primaries and the legal requirements for nominating candidates. A recent Supreme Court judgment had raised questions about the validity of some nominations, particularly regarding party membership requirements and the conduct of primary elections. It is unclear whether the omissions are directly linked to the judgment or other issues concerning the nominations.
The INEC list includes governorship candidates across 26 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, and Bauchi. A review of the published names shows that several candidates whose nominations had attracted attention made the final list, while others were absent. The commission's published list showed Bala Bello as the ADC candidate, Ardo Kumo as the NDC candidate, and Gwamna Isyaku as the APC candidate in Gombe.
The development leaves the PDP facing questions over its representation in the Gombe governorship race. The party had conducted a repeat primary in compliance with the court's directive. The situation has sparked concerns about the participation of some candidates in the elections. Key points include:
Key points
- The INEC list includes 18 presidential candidates.
- Some prominent opposition figures, including Isa Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, are missing from the list.
- The omissions have drawn attention to disputes surrounding party primaries and the legal requirements for nominating candidates.
