INEC Declares October 24 Deadline As Omission Of Pantami, Adebutu From 2027 Guber List Sparks Outcry

According to a report by The Punch on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has provided an alternative window for political platforms whose flagbearers were excluded from the official roster for the upcoming 2027 governorship elections. Affected camps have until October 24 to flag perceived errors.

High-profile figures left off the document include the Peoples Democratic Party guber hopefuls Oladipupo Adebutu (Ogun) and Isa Ali Pantami (Gombe), alongside other regional contenders.

Addressing the controversy, INEC stated that the action complies with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act.

The electoral body tied the exclusions to the Supreme Court’s September 24 verdict in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which validated the constitutional backing of Sections 77(5) to (7) regarding mandatory party membership registers.

The commission noted that failure to submit registers within the designated April window strips parties of eligibility to sponsor candidates.

Emphasizing adherence to judicial rulings under Section 287(1) of the Constitution, the electoral umpire noted:

“Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the commission. The deadline is 24th October, 2026.”

Parties are currently weighing legal paths or addressing compliance gaps before the window shuts.

Big_pen10 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com