Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu and Professor Isa Ali Pantami from its final lists of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections in Ogun and Gombe states.
The final lists, signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on Saturday, contain 13 candidates for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State, with no PDP candidate appearing in either state.
Adebutu’s omission comes amid controversy over his eligibility following allegations that his name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
However, the Ogun State chapter of the PDP rejected the allegations, insisting that Adebutu was a registered party member and that the party had complied with the legal requirements for membership registration and submission of its register to the electoral commission.
In Gombe State, Pantami’s exclusion follows a legal dispute over the process that produced him as the PDP governorship candidate.
On September 24, the Federal High Court in Gombe nullified his initial emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered a fresh primary within 30 days, ruling that the earlier exercise did not comply with the party’s procedures and applicable electoral laws.
Pantami subsequently won the rerun primary conducted on September 29, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
INEC’s published lists did not provide specific explanations for the omission of the two candidates.
The development comes after INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, warned that political parties that failed to comply with membership-register requirements would not be allowed to field affected candidates or substitute them.
Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides that political parties have 14 days to notify INEC in writing, supported by an affidavit, where a nominated candidate’s name is missing from the submitted membership register.
