The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have threatened legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if it fails to include their omitted candidates in the list for the 2027 governorship elections.
The parties said they would consider legal options if the commission failed to resolve the issue by October 24, 2026.
INEC published its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections on October 10, following a Supreme Court judgment on party membership and registration data.
Among those excluded were former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, and the party’s candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu.
Others included the NDC candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo; Senator Danjuma Tella La’ah in Kaduna State; and the Social Democratic Party candidate in Benue State, Professor Sebastine Hon.
In a statement issued on October 13, INEC explained that some candidates were excluded because their political parties failed to submit their membership registers as required by law.
The commission cited Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides a 14-day window for political parties to notify it of candidates they believe were wrongly omitted from the published list.
The deadline for submitting such notifications is October 24, 2026.
The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party had written to INEC and received acknowledgment of its letters but was yet to receive a response.
He expressed hope that the commission would address the issue before the deadline, adding that the party would pursue other lawful measures if its candidates remained excluded.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, also indicated that the party was prepared to consider legal action if the matter was not resolved.
