In its recently published list of governorship candidates for the February 6, 2027, election, the Independent National Electoral Commission omitted several opposition figures, including the PDP’s Ali Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, and the NDC’s Aminu Gwarzo in Kano State. The omissions have stirred controversy in political circles and raised questions about whether the electoral body can disqualify candidates who meet constitutional requirements.
The omission of these leading governorship candidates from the final list for the February 6, 2027 elections followed a September 2026 Supreme Court ruling reinstating strict Electoral Act 2026 provisions requiring parties to use statutory membership registers before holding primaries. The National Assembly enacted the Electoral Act, whose provisions carry constitutional authority.
Following INEC’s official publication, other lists circulated that amplified the claims or added candidates omitted from the original. INEC later disclaimed those publications and clarified its position on the purported disqualifications. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disowned the circulation of what it described as a “fraudulent” list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.
INEC Denies Disqualification List
On October 12, 2026, INEC disowned a viral, fraudulent list claiming that governorship candidates in six states—Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, and Kano—had been disqualified or replaced. INEC labelled the publication fake news, urged the public to disregard it, and advised verifying official notices through authorised INEC channels.
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a fraudulent publication circulating online and purporting to be a special announcement by the Commission regarding issues affecting the list of governorship candidates in six states: Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, and Kano.
“The Commission further wishes to clarify that any information suggesting that INEC has issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the aforementioned states is false.
“The Commission calls on the public to remain vigilant and verify all electoral information through its official communication channels to avoid being misled by false or fraudulent publications.
The omissions result from enforcement of the Electoral Act 2026, supported by a directive from the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters. The rules require political parties to submit official membership registers to INEC at least three weeks before their party primaries. Candidates who changed parties or were not listed in their party’s register when the primaries were held may be disqualified or excluded from the ballot.
Some analysts argue that the disqualifications targeted opposition candidates, particularly in Gombe, Kano, and Ogun, where they were expected to challenge APC contenders. They believe the APC would struggle to defeat them.
Prominent on the list of disqualified candidates were Professor Isa Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; Oladipupo (Ladi) Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate for Ogun State; Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate for Kano State and former Deputy Governor; Musa Shugaba-Abdulahi, the NDC governorship candidate for Nasarawa State; and Olaniyi Agbongboakala, the Accord Party governorship candidate for Ogun State.
Adebutu’s Omission Stem from PDP Internal Crisis?
Oladipo Adebutu’s omission is a separate matter because Ogun State was not included in INEC’s disclaimer. Sources say he was left off the Wike faction’s register because his group was still pursuing a court case when it was submitted and joined the faction only after the deadline. Recognising this risk, Seyi Makinde and others quickly switched parties.
Meanwhile, Oladipupo Adebutu urged his supporters to remain calm and vowed to challenge his exclusion after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) omitted his name from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, Ogun State governorship election.
Adebutu addressed party members and residents, assuring them there is no cause for alarm and urging them to remain peaceful and steadfast. He maintained that he is a duly registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), completed his digital registration on time, had his card verified, and submitted all required documentation to INEC within the statutory window.
He pointed out that other PDP candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate made the list and alleged a pattern of campaign frustration, including billboard restrictions and past attacks.
Pantami Challenges Omission, Gives INEC Three Days to Publish His Name
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission a three-day ultimatum to publish his name as the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
In a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC chairman, his lawyers, Ahmed Raji & Co., challenged what they described as the unlawful omission of his name from the final candidate list published on October 10. Lead counsel Ahmed Raji, SAN, said Pantami was duly nominated after winning a fresh PDP primary on September 29, 2026.
The firm said Pantami, a registered PDP member in Pantami Ward, purchased the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, underwent screening, and won its initial primary on May 26. According to the letter, the PDP submitted his personal particulars through Form EC9 to INEC on August 8. The commission subsequently published his name on August 29 under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The lawyers said the initial primary was challenged in two suits before the Federal High Court in Gombe, with the plaintiffs questioning Pantami’s membership of the party. They maintained that judgments delivered on September 24 resolved the membership question in his favour.
“In the second suit, the court also held that the non-appearance of Pantami’s name in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership. Membership of a political party is ordinarily a matter within the domestic affairs of the party,” the letter stated.
However, the lawyers said the court nullified the May 26 primary on grounds relating to its conduct and directed the PDP to hold a fresh exercise within 30 days, allowing all aspirants cleared on May 14 to participate.
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