INEC Excludes Key PDP Candidates from Election List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship and House of Assembly elections, which notably omitted Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, the governorship candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun and Gombe states, respectively. Adebutu's exclusion is linked to questions regarding his name's absence from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.

Pantami faced legal challenges regarding his party membership, with a Federal High Court ruling on September 23 nullifying his victory and ordering a new primary, which he won on September 30. The list also excluded Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate in Kano, and Musa Shugaba-Abdullahi in Nasarawa.

Conversely, Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State was included despite controversies. In Edo State, the list revealed a significant gender imbalance, with 164 candidates, of which only 16 are women, highlighting a male-to-female ratio of approximately 9:1.