The electoral commission is expected to consider petitions challenging the omission of several governorship candidates from its list ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to consider petitions concerning the exclusion of prominent governorship candidates, including former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, on Thursday, 29 October.
The petitions were submitted by political parties and other concerned parties following the omission of their candidates’ names from INEC’s final list for the 2027 governorship elections.
According to sources within the commission cited by Daily Trust, INEC’s next meeting is expected to address the complaints after the expiration of the 14-day window for submitting petitions.
The deadline elapsed on Saturday, 24 October, with the commission reportedly continuing to receive complaints until the final day.
Other politicians affected by the omissions include Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State; Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State; Senator Danjuma Laah in Kaduna State; and Sebastine Hon, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) governorship nominee in Benue State.
Parties seek review of candidates’ exclusion
The PDP in Gombe State has confirmed that it is challenging the omission of Pantami’s name, maintaining that it is awaiting INEC’s response to its earlier complaint.
The party has expressed hope that the commission will reconsider its position, with its next steps expected to depend on the outcome.
Similarly, the SDP in Benue State says it has submitted the necessary complaint over the omission of Hon’s name. The party’s state chairman, Idoko Itodo, suggested that the omission could have been an error, noting that the candidate’s name had appeared on an earlier list.
The PDP in Nasarawa State has also petitioned INEC over the omission of Esson Mairiga, a member of the state House of Assembly representing Lafia North. The party’s state chairman, Joel Daniel Gimba, described the omission as an error, saying a certified copy of an earlier document obtained from the commission had included Mairiga’s name.
Legal dispute over party membership registers
The controversy follows INEC’s decision to exclude some candidates after a Supreme Court judgment concerning statutory requirements for political parties’ membership registers.
The commission had previously explained that the exclusions were linked to its interpretation of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which require parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period.
In its clarification, INEC said it had acted in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the requirements for parties to sponsor candidates in elections. The affected parties, however, have challenged the omissions and are seeking a review of the decisions.
INEC yet to confirm final decision
Sources cited by Daily Trust said preliminary reviews of the petitions had been conducted, but final consideration would follow the close of submissions.
The commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, is also undertaking a zonal tour, which sources said could affect the timing of the meeting.
However, INEC had not officially confirmed the meeting’s agenda or the outcome of the petitions at the time of reporting.
Thursday’s expected deliberations could therefore prove significant for the affected candidates and their parties as preparations continue for the 2027 elections.
