INEC Explains Exclusion Of Pantami, Adebutu From 2027 Governorship Candidates’ List

Commission cites Supreme Court ruling on party membership registers, gives parties October 24 deadline to complain

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the exclusion of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu and other aspirants from its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision followed a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld the mandatory provisions of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

According to the commission, the Supreme Court ruling in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, affirmed that political parties were required to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. INEC said parties that failed to meet the deadline were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.

The commission explained that it applied the judgment while finalising the governorship candidates’ list, in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It added that the presidential and National Assembly candidates’ list had already been published on September 12, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

INEC said political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded can notify the commission under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026. According to the statement, the deadline for submitting such notifications is October 24, 2026. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.