The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, sparking controversy due to the notable exclusion of prominent flagbearers across several states. Among those missing from the official roster are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for Gombe and Ogun states, alongside the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Kano State. Conversely, the commission cleared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, who secured the fifth position on the 19-man candidate list for the state.

The published documents, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirmed 16 governorship contenders from other political parties in Gombe State and 13 in Ogun State, with the PDP completely absent from both lists. Specifically, the omitted candidates include Ali Pantami of the PDP in Gombe State, Aminu Gwarzo of the NDC in Kano State, and Ladi Adebutu of the PDP in Ogun State.

Although INEC did not issue an official, specific explanation for the omissions, political analysts trace the decisions to a recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party. The judgment upheld the strict validity of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, which bars political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not formally included in the membership register submitted to the electoral body within the legally stipulated timeframe. The release of the final list aligns with prior commitments made by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan during a press briefing in Abuja.

In Gombe State, Ali Pantami’s absence follows a turbulent primary season. Although he initially emerged as the PDP candidate after leaving the APC on May 19, his victory was challenged in court by aspirant Ahmed Mailantarki. Following a Federal High Court order nullifying the initial process, Pantami won a rerun primary on September 29, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry. However, his candidacy faced a major hurdle due to the Supreme Court judgment emphasizing party membership register compliance under Sections 77 and 84 of the Electoral Act.

Reacting to the omission, Pantami released a statement via his personal social media accounts through Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe, urging his supporters and the Pantamiyya Movement to remain calm. He described the situation as a temporary challenge, noting that legal and liaison teams are actively engaging with both the PDP and INEC to rectify the issue within the statutory window provided by Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, which grants parties a 14-day period to address missing candidate names using written notifications and affidavits.

In Kano State, the exclusion of Aminu Gwarzo means he cannot contest the election under the NDC banner. However, Kano State NDC Chairman Alhaji Hussaini Mairiga strongly dismissed any notion of a lost ticket. During a telephone interview, Mairiga maintained that the joint ticket of Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, was properly processed, finalized, and submitted in compliance with all guidelines. He attributed the omission to administrative friction or logistical miscommunication rather than a formal rejection by the commission.

Similarly, in Ogun State, neither Ladi Adebutu nor his running mate, Kolapo-Sowunmi, appeared on the published list. The PDP in the state issued a strong statement through publicity secretary Kayode Adebayo, assuring residents that Adebutu remains the legitimate candidate and attributing the omission to pressure from the ruling party. The party insisted that Adebutu completed digital registration within the designated period, with his membership card verified and submitted on time, expressing absolute confidence that he remains on track for the 2027 election.