INEC Omits Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo From 2027 Governorship List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published its final list of governorship candidates for the February 6, 2027 elections on Saturday, omitting Ali Pantami of the PDP in Gombe, Ladi Adebutu of the PDP in Ogun, and Aminu Gwarzo of the NDC in Kano. The lists, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, show 16 candidates in Gombe and 13 in Ogun, none from the PDP. Meanwhile, Kingsley Chinda was cleared as the APC candidate in Rivers State among 19 contenders.

INEC did not publicly state specific reasons for the exclusions. However, sources link the decision to a September 24 Supreme Court judgment upholding Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates timely submission of party membership registers. Pantami, a former minister, had appeared on the August 29 provisional list but was absent from the final version despite winning a court-ordered rerun primary on September 29.

“The problem is not from us... they told us that the problem was from the computer and that they would rectify it.”

The NDC in Kano claims Gwarzo's absence resulted from a computer glitch at INEC, not party failure. State PRO Yusif Fasaha said the commission assured them the error would be corrected and a new list published by Monday. He insisted Gwarzo fulfilled all nomination requirements within the legal timeframe.

In Gombe, Pantami's supporters described the omission as a temporary setback. A statement signed by Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe on October 10 said they were engaging the PDP and INEC to resolve the matter within the legally allowed period. The ADC also replaced its Adamawa candidate, while former IGP Mohammed Adamu appears as the SDP candidate in Nasarawa.