The electoral commission’s published lists contain no PDP candidate for Ogun and Gombe as the party disputes the omissions ahead of the February 2027 elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has left Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami off its final lists for Ogun and Gombe states ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.
The lists, published on Saturday and signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contain 13 candidates for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State. Neither list includes a PDP candidate or the party’s running mate. PUNCH and other Nigerian news organisations reported the omissions, but INEC’s published documents did not explain the reasons for them.
Ogun: Adebutu’s Eligibility Disputed
Adebutu’s omission comes amid questions about whether his name appeared in the PDP membership register submitted to INEC within the required period.
Civil society groups had raised concerns about his registration records. The Ogun PDP, however, rejected allegations that Adebutu was not properly registered, insisting that he was a legitimate party member and that the party had complied with the relevant requirements.
In a response reported by Premium Times, the party also alleged that political pressure contributed to the omission. That allegation has not been established by the published list itself, and INEC had not publicly explained the exclusion in the reports reviewed. Gombe: Pantami’s Rerun Primary Adds to the Dispute
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emerged as the PDP’s Gombe governorship candidate after a fresh primary on September 29.
The rerun followed a Federal High Court ruling on September 24 that nullified his earlier emergence and ordered the party to conduct another primary within 30 days.
Pantami subsequently won the rerun, but his name did not appear on INEC’s final list. A statement from his camp said party representatives and legal teams were engaging with the relevant authorities to address the omission. The final outcome remains uncertain.
Electoral Rules and the Next Steps
The exclusions come amid legal requirements governing party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.
Reports have linked the wider dispute to a Supreme Court judgment restoring provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning membership registers submitted to INEC. The commission’s published lists, however, do not provide a specific explanation for either candidate’s omission.
Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 also provides a procedure for a political party to notify INEC when a nominated candidate’s name is missing from the published list. The precise implications for the two PDP tickets will depend on the circumstances, compliance with statutory requirements and any subsequent action by the party, the commission or the courts.
What This Means for the 2027 Governorship Elections
The absence of the PDP candidates from the published lists raises questions about the party’s participation in the Ogun and Gombe governorship contests. However, it would be premature to conclude that the disputes are permanently settled without further official clarification or relevant legal developments.
The next important developments will include any formal response from INEC, further action by the PDP and any court proceedings concerning the candidates’ eligibility or omission.
OnPointGist will continue to follow the story and update readers as official statements and verifiable legal developments emerge.
