The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have threatened to take legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if the commission fails to address the exclusion of their candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections.
The parties said they were still engaging the electoral commission but could resort to litigation if the affected candidates were not included by October 24.
The dispute follows INEC’s publication of the final list of candidates for the governorship elections scheduled for February 6, 2027. The list, released on October 10, excluded several prominent politicians, including former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami and former Ogun State governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu.
The development has raised fresh questions about compliance with electoral requirements, the nomination process and the legal options available to political parties whose candidates are left off the official list.
INEC cites failure to submit membership registers
INEC has attributed the exclusions to the failure of some political parties to submit their membership registers in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
In a statement issued on October 13, the commission said the relevant legal provisions require political parties to maintain and submit their membership records.
The commission also referred to Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides a process for political parties that believe their candidates have been wrongly omitted to notify INEC within the prescribed period.
According to the commission, the affected parties have until October 24 to submit the necessary notifications.
The explanation places the dispute within the broader question of whether political parties fulfilled their statutory obligations during the nomination process.
Pantami, Adebutu among affected politicians
Pantami, who emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, is among the most prominent politicians affected by the decision.
Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State, was also excluded. Other affected contestants include the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, and Senator Danjuma Tella La’ah in Kaduna State.
The exclusions could have significant consequences for the affected parties’ preparations if they remain unresolved.
The PDP and NDC have indicated that they are seeking clarification and a resolution before the deadline expires.
The PDP’s national publicity secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, said the party had engaged INEC and that its legal team was monitoring developments. The NDC’s national publicity secretary, Osa Director, also said the party had contacted the commission.
Legal challenge could shape the next stage
The immediate issue is whether INEC will review the affected cases following representations from the parties.
If the dispute proceeds to court, the resulting proceedings could clarify how the Electoral Act’s membership-register provisions apply to candidate nominations and omissions from the final list.
For now, the parties have threatened legal action but have not established that a court has ordered INEC to restore the candidates.
The October 24 deadline is therefore the next important point in the dispute, as the parties seek to protect their candidates’ participation in the 2027 elections.
