The release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has triggered mixed reactions, with political tension in some camps and celebrations in others.
Among those missing from the published list are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, a former deputy governor.
While the Ogun State PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of mounting pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu, Pantami’s camp urged supporters to remain calm, describing the omission as a temporary challenge. Gwarzo had yet to react as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, supporters of some politicians whose candidacies had come under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court judgment expressed relief after their names appeared on the list.
INEC published the names of candidates for the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections on its website on Saturday, marking a major milestone in preparations for the 2027 polls.
A review of the list showed that 18 presidential candidates would contest the election. They include President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the NDC, African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement.
The commission also published governorship candidates for 26 states, including Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Kaduna, Oyo, Sokoto and Plateau.
However, the absence of several prominent aspirants has raised fresh questions about party primaries, nomination procedures and compliance with electoral laws.
Pantami’s omission raises questions in Gombe
In Gombe State, Pantami’s absence from the list came despite his victory in a fresh PDP governorship primary conducted following a court ruling that nullified his earlier emergence as the party’s candidate.
The Federal High Court in Gombe had ordered a rerun after a suit filed by Usman Garry challenged the validity of the initial nomination process.
Garry argued that the PDP had failed to conduct a valid governorship primary before announcing Pantami as its candidate on June 26, 2026, alleging that the process violated the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
In her judgment, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed directed the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with its guidelines and the law.
The PDP subsequently held a rerun on Tuesday across the 114 wards in Gombe State’s 11 local government areas.
Pantami won with 2,024 votes, defeating former House of Representatives member Khamisu Mailantarki, who scored 389 votes, and Garry, who polled 112 votes.
Despite the victory, neither Pantami nor the PDP appeared as the party’s candidate in INEC’s published list for the state.
The spokesperson for the Pantamiyya Movement, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, appealed to supporters to remain calm, saying the development did not represent a final determination of the former minister’s political future.
In a statement shared on Pantami’s Facebook account, Mohammed said the camp was aware of the omission and remained hopeful that the issue would be resolved.
“This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah,” the statement read.
The statement did not specify the legal or administrative steps being considered to address the omission.
INEC’s list named Bala Bello of the ADC, Ardo Kumo of the NDC and Gwamna Isyaku of the APC as the governorship candidates in Gombe.
Ogun PDP alleges APC interference
In Ogun State, the PDP accused the APC of exerting undue pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu from the list, alleging that the ruling party feared losing the governorship election.
The allegation was contained in a statement by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, who urged residents and party supporters not to panic over the omission.
The PDP insisted that Adebutu remained its duly nominated candidate and expressed confidence that his name would eventually be published.
According to the party, Adebutu registered as a member within the stipulated period, obtained a printed membership card, underwent verification and submitted the required information to INEC before the deadline.
“The public should be informed that the omission of our candidate’s name in INEC’s list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election,” the statement said.
The allegation had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
Adebutu’s running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, was also missing from the list, as was the Accord Party governorship candidate, Alhaji Olaniyi Agbongboakala.
The published list featured 13 governorship candidates in Ogun, including Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, of the APC; Jimi Lawal of the ADC; Babajide Rotimi of the APM; Adenuga Adekunle of the Boot Party; and Akinbola Rotham of the NNPP.
Chinda, Omo-Agege, Ochei listed
The publication also featured several high-profile politicians whose nominations had attracted attention following the Supreme Court’s ruling on party membership registers and candidate selection.
On September 24, 2026, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld an appeal by INEC and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The Court of Appeal had previously invalidated the provisions in a case originating from a suit filed by the Zenith Labour Party.
The restored provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions. Only members whose names appear on the submitted registers may participate in those exercises.
The law also provides that failure to submit the register within the stipulated period prevents a party from fielding candidates, while Section 84(2) provides for nominations through direct primaries or consensus.
The judgment prompted questions about the eligibility of politicians who changed parties shortly before their primaries, including Kingsley Chinda, Ovie Omo-Agege and Victor Ochei.
However, the Supreme Court did not expressly disqualify the politicians, leaving the validity of their individual nominations dependent on compliance with the relevant legal requirements.
Chinda, listed as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, made the final list. Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President contesting the Delta Central senatorial seat under the NDC, was also included.
Ochei, a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, equally appeared on the list as the NDC candidate for Delta North senatorial district.
Other governorship candidates
The list provides a clearer picture of the political contests expected across the 26 states covered in the publication.
In Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is listed for the ADC, Obafemi Hamzat for the APC, Doherty Adeshina for the NDC and Doherty Olugbemiga for the PDP.
In Kwara, the candidates include Zakari Mohammed of the ADC, Yakubu Danladi Salihu of the APC, Abdulmumin Ajia of the NDC and Kawu Bolakale of the PDP.
Abia’s list features Kalu Agu of the ADC, Ndubuisi Ogah of the NDC, Kelechi Anosike of the PDP and Eric Chinemeucheya of the APC.
In Adamawa, Modibo Ribadu is listed for the ADC, Aishatu Ahmed for the NDC, Maurice Vunobolki for the PDP and Ahmed Galadima for the APC.
Akwa Ibom’s candidates include John Akpanudoedehe of the ADC, Michael Eyong of the NDC, Sunday Akpan of the PDP and Governor Umo Eno of the APC.
In Benue, the list names Hembe Lorwase of the ADC, Terhemba Shija of the NDC, Michael Aondoakaa of the PDP and Governor Hyacinth Alia of the APC.
Borno’s candidates include Babagana Buhari of the ADC, Ibrahim Kashim of the NDC, Abba-Gana Baba of the PDP and Mustapha Gubio of the APC.
In Ebonyi, Ukpai Udeh is listed for the ADC, Igwe Paulinus for the NDC, Chukwuma Ifeanyi for the PDP and Governor Francis Nwifuru for the APC.
Enugu’s list features Ocho Chukwuma of the ADC, Christian Ohaa of the NDC, Geoffrey Nnaji of the PDP and Ndubuisi Mbah of the APC.
In Kaduna, Isa Ashiru is listed for the ADC, Bawa Usman for the PDP and Sani Uba for the APC.
Kano’s published candidates include Ibrahim Amin of the ADC, Yusuf Kabir of the APC and Abacha Sani of the PDP, with Gwarzo missing from the list.
In Oyo, Yusuf Adebola is listed for the NDC, Adegoke Adegboyega for the ADC, Gbolarumi Ola for the PDP and Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun for the APC.
Sokoto’s candidates include Aliyu Ahmad of the NDC, Manir Dan’iya of the ADC, Abdullahi Sokoto Abubakar of the PDP and Aliyu Ahmed of the APC.
In Plateau, Akuns Sunday is listed for the NDC, Sura John Sunday for the ADC, Ropshik Wungak for the PDP and Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the APC.
With the publication of the list, the affected parties and aspirants now face the task of addressing the omissions and clarifying their positions as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
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