INEC Cites Electoral Act in Exclusion of Pantami, Adebutu from 2027 Governorship Candidates’ List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained its decision to exclude the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates in Gombe and Ogun states, Isa Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, respectively, from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, the commission attributed the exclusion to the failure of their political parties to comply with statutory requirements for submitting membership registers, as stipulated under Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

INEC stated that the provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period and that parties that fail to comply are ineligible to sponsor candidates in the affected elections.

The commission explained that its decision followed a Supreme Court judgment in a case instituted by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which challenged the application of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

According to INEC, the apex court upheld the constitutionality of the provisions and affirmed the commission’s timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The exclusion of Pantami and Adebutu, alongside the inclusion of Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has, however, raised questions about the application of the membership requirements.

Chinda reportedly registered with the APC on April 27, 2026, but formally announced his defection from the PDP to the APC on June 2, after the party had conducted its governorship primary on May 21.

The sequence of events has prompted questions about whether Chinda was a registered APC member at the time of the primary and whether his name appeared on the membership register submitted to INEC within the prescribed period.

INEC also clarified the timelines for addressing complaints over the publication of candidates’ lists. The commission noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates were published on September 12, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on September 24.

Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly omitted from a published list have 14 days to notify the commission. INEC stated that the deadline for the relevant notifications is October 24, 2026.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, adherence to the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process.

The Supreme Court judgment arose from a dispute between the Zenith Labour Party and INEC over the submission of party membership registers and the requirements for determining candidates eligible to contest elections under their respective parties.

In its ruling on September 24, the apex court overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC before conducting valid primaries.

The Supreme Court upheld the provisions as constitutional and mandatory, affirming that parties that failed to submit their registers within the stipulated period were ineligible to sponsor candidates, according to INEC.

The commission added that it relied on Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires relevant authorities to enforce court decisions, in applying the judgment to the final list of governorship candidates.