INEC Final List: Adebutu, Pantami Omitted from PDP Governorship Race

• INEC released its final list for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, notably omitting the Peoples Democratic Party's candidates for Ogun and Gombe states.
• Ladi Adebutu of Ogun was excluded due to concerns regarding his name's presence on the PDP membership register submitted to the electoral body.
• Isa Ali Pantami of Gombe was omitted following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified his initial primary election victory, despite his subsequent win in a rerun.
• The Independent National Electoral Commission did not provide specific explanations for the omissions on the published lists.
• INEC previously indicated that parties failing to meet membership register requirements would face candidate disqualification without substitution options, as per Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

This situation reinforces the need for political parties to conduct thorough due diligence and maintain transparent processes to prevent similar challenges in future elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its definitive roster of candidates for the gubernatorial elections scheduled for February 6, 2027. Notably absent from this crucial publication are the candidates representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in both Ogun and Gombe states. The lists, which bear the signature of INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and were made public on the commission's official website on a recent Saturday, enumerate 13 candidates for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State, none of whom are affiliated with the PDP.

Specifically, the omissions include Ladi Adebutu, who was the PDP's governorship candidate for Ogun State, and Isa Ali Pantami, the party's candidate for Gombe State. The published lists themselves do not offer any explicit rationale for these significant exclusions. This development means that in these two states, the PDP will not have a candidate contesting the upcoming governorship polls, a major setback for the party.

The absence of Ladi Adebutu's name from the Ogun State list is linked to ongoing scrutiny regarding his inclusion in the PDP's membership register, which was submitted to INEC. Various groups had previously voiced concerns about Adebutu's eligibility, alleging that his name was not present on the party's official membership records. Despite these allegations, the Ogun State chapter of the PDP publicly refuted the claims, asserting that Adebutu was indeed a registered member and that the party had fully complied with all legal stipulations concerning membership registration and the submission of its register to the electoral body.

In Gombe State, the exclusion of Isa Ali Pantami stems from a legal challenge concerning the primary election that initially led to his nomination as the PDP's gubernatorial candidate. On September 24, a Federal High Court in Gombe nullified Pantami's initial victory, ruling that the primary election process had failed to adhere to the party's established procedures and relevant electoral statutes. The court subsequently mandated the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election within a 30-day timeframe. Pantami participated in and won this rerun primary, held on September 29, where he defeated challengers Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry, yet his name remains absent from INEC's final list.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has previously underscored the critical importance of strict adherence to electoral guidelines by political parties. Mohammed Haruna, an INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, had stated in the preceding week that any political party failing to meet the requirements related to membership registers would be precluded from fielding affected candidates or from substituting them. This directive highlights INEC's firm stance on party compliance as a prerequisite for candidate eligibility.

Furthermore, Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 outlines a specific procedure for addressing candidate omissions. This section stipulates that political parties are granted a 14-day window to formally notify INEC in writing, accompanied by an affidavit, if a nominated candidate's name is found to be missing from the published lists. This provision underscores the legal avenues available to parties to rectify such discrepancies, provided they act within the stipulated timeframe and follow due process.

These omissions underscore the critical importance of meticulous compliance with both party internal procedures and national electoral laws for all political entities. The cases of Adebutu and Pantami serve as potent reminders that even successful primary election outcomes or claims of membership can be overturned or invalidated if procedural or legal requirements are not rigorously met. The integrity of the electoral process relies heavily on parties ensuring their candidates fulfill all statutory conditions, from proper registration to correctly conducted primaries.

The absence of the PDP from the governorship ballots in Ogun and Gombe states for the 2027 elections has significant implications for democratic participation and competition. It highlights the potential for legal and administrative hurdles to drastically alter the political landscape, emphasizing that strict adherence to electoral laws and party guidelines is paramount to avoid candidate disqualification or omission from INEC's final lists. This situation reinforces the need for political parties to conduct thorough due diligence and maintain transparent processes to prevent similar challenges in future elections.

Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must ensure strict compliance with party membership register submission requirements and primary election procedures to avoid candidate disqualification or omission from INEC's final lists, as demonstrated by the cases of Adebutu and Pantami. Non-compliance can lead to significant legal challenges and electoral setbacks, necessitating careful review of the Electoral Act 2026 and party guidelines.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Online