2027: PDP, NDC Threaten Legal Action If INEC Fails to Enlist Candidates by Friday

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of their governorship candidates from the final list for the 2027 elections, with affected parties threatening legal action if the issue remains unresolved.

The dispute followed INEC’s publication of its final list of governorship candidates on October 10, which excluded several candidates, including the PDP’s Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Professor Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State, as well as the NDC’s Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in Kano State.

The omissions triggered protests and demands for clarification from the affected parties, which insist that their candidates should be included on the list.

The NDC said it was investigating the omission of Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, and would pursue all available legal options to secure their inclusion.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC would take the necessary steps to resolve the matter.

“The NDC is looking into the matter and will use every available legal means to ensure our candidates’ names are restored on the list,” he said.

The PDP, meanwhile, said it was engaging INEC to address the exclusion of its candidates and urged affected members and supporters to remain calm while discussions continued.

Pantami’s legal team also issued a formal demand to INEC, requesting that his name be published as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe following a fresh primary election held on September 29.

His lawyers argued that the primary was conducted in compliance with a court order and monitored by INEC officials.

However, INEC has attributed the exclusion of some candidates to their parties’ failure to comply with membership-register requirements under the Electoral Act 2026.

The commission cited a September 24 Supreme Court judgment upholding provisions requiring political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period.

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

The dispute has intensified scrutiny of the commission’s handling of candidate nominations as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.

The affected parties are seeking clarification and corrective action, while the commission maintains that it must apply the law and comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.