2027 Gov Election: Pantami, Adebutu Missing As INEC Releases Final List

No Result View All Result Home News Politics Business Sport Football Health Entertainment Education Opinion Editorial Columns Others LeVogue Magazine Conferences National Economy Contact Us Hausa Edition Home News Politics Business Sport Football Health Entertainment Education Opinion Editorial Columns Others LeVogue Magazine Conferences National Economy Contact Us No Result View All Result No Result View All Result 2027 Gov Election: Pantami, Adebutu Missing As INEC Releases Final List by LEADERSHIP News 7 seconds ago in News Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections, with the names of prominent politicians, including Professor Isa Ali Pantami and Hon. Ladi Adebutu, missing from the lists in Gombe and Ogun states, respectively.

The development comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced its Adamawa State governorship candidate, Engineer Umar Suleiman, who emerged from the party’s primary election, with Modibo Hamantukur Ribadu, who is listed alongside Aguiwa Keven Iliya as his running mate.

Meanwhile, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has been listed as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, while INEC has included Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, amid ongoing legal and political controversies surrounding his nomination. The absence of Pantami and Adebutu from the published lists has raised questions about their participation in the forthcoming elections, although the circumstances surrounding their omission were not immediately clear.

Although the reason for the substitution in Adamawa was not immediately established, unconfirmed reports linked the development to political differences involving prominent figures within the ADC. However, no official confirmation was available to substantiate the claims.

In Gombe State, supporters of Pantami expressed concern over the non-publication of his name on the INEC list, despite a fresh primary election reportedly conducted on September 29, 2026, following an order of the Federal High Court.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 10, and signed by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe, the group said it was engaging the relevant organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC to resolve the matter within the period allowed by law.

The statement urged supporters of Pantami and the Pantamiyya Movement to remain calm, describing the omission as a temporary setback rather than a final determination of his electoral status.

It expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through ongoing engagements with the party and the electoral commission.

Similarly, in Ogun State, the absence of Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate, and his running mate from the list released by INEC triggered celebrations among some APC supporters.

The celebrations were reported in parts of Abeokuta, including Olomoore, Ita Oshin and areas along Aiyetoro Road, where some APC supporters interpreted the omission as an advantage for their party ahead of the election.

INEC listed 13 governorship candidates in Ogun State, including the APC candidate, Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, and the ADC candidate, Lawal Jimi Adebisi, whose inclusion followed a court order.

Other candidates on the list represented the Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, National Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party.

However, the Ogun PDP chairman, Dr Abayomi Tella, dismissed the celebrations, expressing confidence that INEC would address the omission.

Tella described the development as a temporary setback and maintained that the party had fulfilled its responsibilities in the process leading to the election.

He also dismissed the celebrations by APC supporters, insisting that the omission would not determine the outcome of the February 2027 poll.

The circumstances surrounding the absence of Adebutu and his running mate from the published list remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has emerged as the SDP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State after INEC listed him among candidates for the 2027 election.

The development was also confirmed by the Mohammed Abubakar Adamu Campaign Organisation, whose Director of Digital Media and Strategic Communications, High Chief Otaru Douglas, spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday by telephone.

Douglas said Adamu’s inclusion meant he would be on the ballot in Nasarawa State, expressing confidence in the campaign’s prospects in 2027.

Adamu had initially contested the APC governorship primary in Nasarawa State but lost to Senator Aliyu Wadada. He subsequently defected to the SDP, where he secured the party’s ticket.

According to information provided by the party and campaign officials, Adamu emerged through a substitution primary or special delegates’ congress to replace Musa Adamu Angba, who withdrew from the race.

The exercise was reportedly conducted under INEC supervision through an affirmation voice vote, following the SDP’s decision to conduct fresh primaries in Nasarawa and Gombe states on September 5, 2026, to replace candidates who had withdrawn.

Adamu’s candidacy had been the subject of debate following the Supreme Court judgment in Appeal No. SC/CR/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026, concerning the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC had said it was reviewing the judgment to determine its practical application to records already submitted by political parties.

However, Adamu’s camp maintained that the judgment did not invalidate his candidacy. Douglas argued that the Supreme Court had restored the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), (6), (7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 after the Court of Appeal had declared the provisions unconstitutional.

He further maintained that no court had invalidated the SDP membership register, nullified the direct primary monitored by INEC that produced Adamu, or ordered the commission to remove the retired police chief from its list.

In Rivers State, Chinda, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency and a close political ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, emerged as the APC governorship candidate following the party’s primary election held on May 21, 2026.

He was the sole aspirant in the exercise following the withdrawal of other contenders, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The primary returning officer, Bitrus Kwamoti, declared Chinda the winner with 268,497 votes across the state’s 23 local government areas.

INEC had earlier published the particulars of governorship candidates in Rivers State in August 2026, listing Chinda among the 19 candidates cleared to contest. His continued inclusion on the commission’s list has, however, come amid legal and political disputes over his eligibility.

A Supreme Court judgment delivered in September 2026 concerning provisions of the Electoral Act intensified the debate surrounding his nomination.

The Rivers APC has rejected calls questioning Chinda’s eligibility, maintaining that he registered as a party member 24 days before the primary, exceeding the 21-day threshold stipulated by the party. Its officials have also argued that the Supreme Court judgment does not invalidate his candidacy.

Party officials have maintained that Chinda remains the authentic APC candidate and urged supporters to concentrate on mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, legal challenges to his nomination remain pending in court, with a suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt adjourned until November 4, 2026.

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