2027: INEC Explains Omission Of Pantami, Adebutu From Governorship List, Provides Update On Senate Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday explained reasons for excluding former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, former rep Ladi Adebutu and others from the final list of governorship candidates that was released over the weekend.

The electoral body in a statement issued by Mr  Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com cited the Supreme Court ruling that was delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party (Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026).

Recall that the apex court’s decision had overturned an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified Sections 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. Those sections strictly require political parties to submit their comprehensive membership registers to INEC as a mandatory prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.

The Supreme Court explicitly ruled that the provisions of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 are fully constitutional and mandatory. Consequently, the apex court upheld Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required all political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The nation’s apex court had also noted that any political party that failed to comply with this timeline became legally ineligible to sponsor candidates for the upcoming elections.

Invoking Section 287(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which mandates all authorities and persons to enforce decisions of the Supreme Court, INEC said it had no choice but to drop candidates from the defaulting parties.

‘The Commission, while finalizing the list of candidates for the Governorship election, applied the above decision of the Supreme Court and excluded political parties that failed to comply with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, in relation to fielding of candidates’ the statement said.

The electoral body, however, hinted that it may not yet be ‘Uhuru’ for presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives candidates who fall into this category because their lists had been prepared before the Supreme Court ruling, any relief that they enjoy may therefore be a temporary reprieve.

‘Meanwhile, the final list of Presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on 12th September, 2026, thirteen days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment’ INEC added.

Submitting that the exclusion of Pantami and others from the governorship list underscores its strict adherence to judicial precedents under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, INEC also noted that affected political parties have until the 24th of this month to file complaints.

‘Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties that believe their candidates were wrongly left off the list have 14 days from the date of publication to notify the Commission. The deadline is 24th October, 2026’ the statement added while assuring the public of INEC’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you