The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will determine whether former Communications Minister Isa Pantami, Ogun governorship hopeful Ladi Adebutu and other politicians omitted from its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections will be reinstated.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday, saying the commission would consider the matter at its meeting on Thursday.
Pantami is seeking the Gombe governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, while Adebutu is the PDP’s candidate for the Ogun governorship election.
Their names were missing from the final list released by the commission on October 10.
Other affected politicians include Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano and the party’s Kaduna governorship candidate, Danjuma Laah.
INEC also excluded governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, Action Alliance and Accord in Bauchi State.
The commission had explained that the affected parties failed to submit their membership registers within the period stipulated by law.
The decision followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries, congresses and conventions.
INEC said the apex court upheld its timetable directing parties to submit their registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026, adding that parties which failed to comply were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the elections.
However, the affected parties have challenged the exclusions, insisting that they complied with the relevant legal requirements.
The PDP has engaged the commission over the omissions of Pantami and Adebutu, while its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, filed an affidavit at the Federal High Court registry in Abuja on October 15.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, said the party leadership and the candidates’ legal teams were discussing the matter with INEC, adding that litigation remained an option if the dispute was not resolved.
In Ogun State, PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella, described Adebutu’s exclusion as an error, expressing confidence that the commission would restore his name.
Pantami’s aide also said the former minister would explore available legal options to challenge his exclusion.
Meanwhile, the NDC has protested the omission of Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said it had written to INEC and received acknowledgements but was yet to obtain a substantive response.
The commission had earlier given parties 14 days from the publication of the final list to report alleged wrongful omissions, with the deadline expiring on October 24.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
