INEC Gives Parties October 24 Deadline to Challenge Omitted 2027 Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to report alleged errors involving candidates excluded from its final list for the 2027 governorship elections. The deadline comes amid controversy over the omission of prominent political figures, including former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami, who is seeking the governorship of Gombe State, and Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party's governorship candidate in Ogun State. INEC said the deadline was established under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides a 14-day period for political parties to notify the commission if they believe their candidates were wrongly left off the published list. The commission's clarification gives affected parties an opportunity to formally raise their concerns. However, the deadline does not automatically restore the omitted candidates to the list or guarantee that their complaints will be upheld. Why Pantami and Adebutu Were Omitted INEC's decision followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment concerning provisions of the Electoral Act that regulate political party membership registers and candidate nominations. In a statement, the commission's National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. These provisions govern the submission of party membership registers to INEC and their use during party primaries, congresses and conventions. According to the commission, political parties were required to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026, in line with its timetable for the elections. INEC said the Supreme Court upheld the requirements and ruled that parties that failed to comply with the relevant provisions were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections. The commission explained that it applied the judgment when preparing the final list of governorship candidates, excluding parties it considered non-compliant with the membership-register requirements. It also cited Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to enforce decisions of the courts. Other Candidates Affected by the Omissions Pantami and Adebutu are not the only politicians affected by the development. The Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, was also absent from the final list. In Jigawa State, the African Democratic Congress protested the omission of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, alongside other candidates reportedly affected by the exercise. The exclusions have prompted calls for clarification from affected political parties, with some indicating that they may pursue legal action to challenge the decisions. The controversy has also drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding individual nominations and the application of the membership-register requirements to different political parties. Pantami's Nomination Followed a Fresh Primary Pantami's exclusion has attracted particular attention because he emerged as the PDP's governorship candidate in Gombe State after a court-ordered rerun of the party's primary. Earlier reports indicated that a court had directed the PDP to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with the party's guidelines and applicable electoral laws following a challenge to Pantami's initial emergence. The PDP subsequently conducted another primary, which Pantami won with 2,024 votes. His challengers, Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry, scored 389 and 112 votes respectively, according to earlier media reports. Despite that result, Pantami's name and the PDP were absent from INEC's final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State. The situation highlights the distinction between winning a party primary and meeting the electoral commission's requirements for a party to sponsor a candidate. A nomination obtained through a primary does not, by itself, settle questions concerning compliance with other applicable electoral provisions. PDP Disputes Circumstances Surrounding Adebutu's Exclusion Adebutu's omission has also generated controversy in Ogun State. The PDP has maintained that Adebutu remains its duly nominated governorship candidate. The party previously rejected claims concerning his membership status, insisting that he registered within the stipulated period and that the necessary information was submitted to INEC. The party also alleged that political pressure contributed to the omission. That allegation remains the party's claim and should not be treated as an established explanation for the commission's action. INEC, in its clarification, attributed the exclusions to the application of the membership-register provisions following the Supreme Court judgment. The competing positions leave affected parties with the task of presenting their complaints and supporting evidence through the applicable procedures. Supreme Court Judgment at the Centre of the Dispute The Supreme Court case involved INEC and the Zenith Labour Party, which had challenged provisions of the Electoral Act relating to party membership registers and candidate selection. The apex court's September 24 judgment overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated the disputed provisions. INEC said the ruling confirmed that the requirements were constitutional and mandatory for political parties. It relied on the judgment when determining which parties could sponsor candidates in the governorship elections. The timing of the ruling has become an important part of the dispute. INEC noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates were published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment. The commission's latest clarification, however, addresses the process for parties that believe candidates were wrongly omitted from the relevant lists. It set October 24 as the deadline for notifying INEC about alleged errors involving governorship candidates. What Happens Before October 24? Affected political parties now have until October 24 to notify INEC of the alleged omissions in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The deadline gives the commission an opportunity to receive and consider complaints from parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded. The outcome will depend on the issues raised and the applicable legal requirements; the deadline itself does not determine the final status of any candidate. INEC has reiterated its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process. The dispute comes as preparations continue for the 2027 elections, with the governorship polls scheduled for February 6, 2027. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027. For the affected political parties, the immediate priority is to meet the October 24 deadline and pursue the available procedures to challenge the omissions. Whether Pantami, Adebutu and the other affected candidates will eventually appear on the final lists remains unresolved.