INEC Drops Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo From Final List of 2027 Governorship Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, leaving out prominent candidates Ali Pantami of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Ladi Adebutu of the PDP in Ogun State, and Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State.

The omission has raised concerns within the affected parties, with political leaders and the candidates’ supporters seeking clarification on their eligibility to participate in the forthcoming elections.

The final lists, signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, showed that 16 candidates would contest the governorship election in Gombe State and 13 in Ogun State. However, none of the candidates listed in either state was from the PDP.

In Rivers State, the commission included Kingsley Chinda among the 19 governorship candidates cleared to contest the election.

The controversy follows a September 24 Supreme Court judgment that upheld the continued application of provisions requiring political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period.

Pantami’s Candidacy Faces Legal Uncertainty

Pantami, who previously appeared on INEC’s provisional list published on August 29, was absent from the final list released by the commission.

The former minister emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State after leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 19, 2026.

However, his emergence was challenged in court by Ahmed Mailantarki, another aspirant who contested the PDP governorship ticket.

A Federal High Court in Gombe subsequently nullified the party’s initial primary election and ordered a fresh exercise. Pantami later won the rerun primary conducted on September 29, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.

Despite his victory in the rerun primary, questions remained over his eligibility following the Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Act 2026.

The judgment restored the application of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2), which concern party membership registration and compliance with electoral requirements for candidate nomination.

The provisions have become a major issue for political parties preparing for the 2027 elections, particularly where the eligibility of their nominated candidates is in dispute.

INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna had earlier indicated that some political parties might be unable to field candidates in the 2027 elections because of the legal requirements.

Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 also provides for parties to notify INEC in writing, accompanied by an affidavit, within 14 days where a nominated candidate’s name is missing.

Reacting to his exclusion, Pantami assured his supporters that efforts were being made to resolve the matter.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms, his camp described the omission as a temporary challenge in the electoral process and urged supporters to remain calm.

The statement, signed by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe, acknowledged that the development had generated concerns among PDP supporters and members of the Pantamiyya Movement in Gombe State and beyond.

According to the camp, its legal and liaison teams were engaging with the relevant organs of the PDP and INEC to address the issue and ensure compliance with the applicable court orders and electoral laws.

The camp expressed hope that the omission would be resolved within the period permitted by law.

Ogun PDP Insists Adebutu Will Contest

In Ogun State, the absence of Adebutu’s name from INEC’s final list has raised questions about the status of the PDP’s governorship ticket.

His running mate, Kolapo-Sowunmi, was also missing from the list, leaving the party without a listed candidate for the governorship election in the state.

The omission has triggered speculation that Adebutu’s name might not have been included in the party membership register submitted to INEC within the period stipulated by law.

However, the Ogun State chapter of the PDP has rejected concerns about the status of its candidate, insisting that Adebutu remains the party’s duly nominated flag bearer.

In a statement, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that Adebutu’s name would eventually be published by INEC.

The party expressed confidence that Adebutu would emerge as governor of Ogun State after the 2027 election.

Adebayo alleged that pressure from the ruling APC was responsible for the omission, claiming that the ruling party was concerned about the possibility of losing the election.

The PDP spokesperson maintained that Adebutu had remained a member of the party and completed the required digital registration process within the stipulated period.

He further stated that Adebutu’s membership card had been printed and verified, adding that the relevant documents were submitted to INEC as required.

The party urged its supporters not to be distracted by the development, insisting that it remained determined to defeat the APC in the forthcoming election.

It also expressed confidence that the people of Ogun State would support its candidate, despite what it described as political interference and attempts to frustrate its electoral plans.

Kano NDC Insists Gwarzo Remains Its Candidate

In Kano State, the NDC has rejected any suggestion that Aminu Gwarzo has lost the party’s governorship ticket following his exclusion from INEC’s final list.

The party’s state chairman, Hussaini Mairiga, insisted that Gwarzo remained its authentic candidate for the February 6, 2027 election.

Speaking during a telephone interview, Mairiga said the party had completed the necessary processes for its governorship ticket and submitted the names of Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, to INEC before the deadline.

According to him, there had been no decision by the party to replace either candidate.

Mairiga maintained that the omission did not reflect the party’s position and suggested that an administrative error or communication problem might have occurred during the preparation or publication of the final list.

He expressed confidence that the names submitted by the party remained valid, despite their absence from the published document.

The NDC chairman reiterated the party’s support for Gwarzo and Kwankwaso, insisting that both politicians remained its chosen candidates for the Kano governorship election.

However, INEC has yet to publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding Gwarzo’s exclusion.

Uncertainty Ahead of the 2027 Governorship Elections

The exclusion of Pantami, Adebutu and Gwarzo has added to the political uncertainty surrounding preparations for the 2027 governorship elections.

While the affected parties insist that their candidates were properly nominated, the absence of their names from INEC’s final list raises questions about their eligibility to participate in the elections.

The dispute also highlights the importance of compliance with party membership registration requirements, nomination procedures and other provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Until the commission provides further clarification or the affected parties secure an appropriate resolution, the status of the three candidates remains a major issue for their respective political organisations and supporters ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship polls.

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