The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to clarify the status of several high-profile governorship candidates on Tuesday following last week’s Supreme Court judgment on political party membership registers and candidate nomination.
Among those whose candidacies have attracted attention are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State; Muhammad Nami, the PDP candidate in Niger State; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who is seeking the Nasarawa governorship ticket under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The Supreme Court recently affirmed the validity of Sections 77 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026, provisions that address party membership registers and the nomination of candidates. The ruling has triggered questions over politicians who changed parties after participating in primaries or seeking tickets under other platforms.
Pantami’s case has drawn particular attention in Gombe. A Federal High Court had earlier nullified his initial PDP governorship nomination and ordered a fresh primary. He subsequently won the rerun conducted on 29 September, polling 2,054 votes against Khamisu Mailantarki’s 389 and Aliyu Garry’s 112.
Concerns have also been raised over Nami’s emergence as the PDP candidate in Niger after his previous political activities under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Supporters of his candidacy, however, maintain that the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act provide a legal framework for candidate replacement following withdrawal.
In Nasarawa, questions have similarly surrounded Adamu’s emergence as the SDP candidate after the party’s earlier flagbearer, Adamu Angba, withdrew from the race. Supporters of the former police chief argue that the Supreme Court judgment did not make any specific order affecting his candidacy.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, is expected to address a world press conference on Tuesday, where the commission is expected to outline its preparations for the 2027 elections and clarify the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for affected candidates.
INEC’s timetable provides for the publication of the final list of governorship and State Assembly candidates by 10 October 2026, adding urgency to the commission’s expected position.
The commission’s decision is therefore expected to provide greater clarity on whether the affected candidates will remain on the ballot or face further legal and electoral hurdles ahead of the 2027 elections.
