INEC Breaks Silence On Excluding Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo From 2027 Election List

According to a report by DAILY POST on Wednesday 14 October 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed why Isa Pantami, Ladi Adebutu, Gwarzo and other candidates were left out of the final list of contenders for the 2027 governorship elections.

The electoral commission attributed the exclusions to the failure of the affected political parties to submit their membership registers within the timeframe prescribed by law.

The decision has generated controversy, particularly in Gombe and Ogun states, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates, Pantami and Adebutu, respectively, were absent from the final list released by INEC.

Pantami’s exclusion came after he reportedly won a court-ordered rerun of the PDP governorship primary in Gombe State. Adebutu and his running mate were also omitted from the list.

Following the development, the Ogun PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exerting pressure on the electoral commission. Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong also called on INEC to demonstrate its independence and impartiality.

However, INEC insisted that its action was guided by the law and a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission acted in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026.

According to the commission, the judgment upheld Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period.

INEC explained that the apex court also upheld its timetable requiring parties to submit their registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The commission maintained that parties that failed to meet the statutory requirement were not eligible to field candidates in the electoral process.

It added that the decision to exclude the affected aspirants was part of its responsibility to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling, as required by Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

INEC further noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates were published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

The commission also reminded political parties that they could challenge the exclusion of their candidates by notifying INEC within 14 days of the publication of the relevant list, as provided under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

It set October 24, 2026, as the deadline for submitting such notifications.

INEC reiterated that its decisions were guided by the law and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.

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