INEC Demands Formal Complaints as Missing Candidates Rock 2027 Election List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked political parties affected by the omission of candidates from its final list for the 2027 general elections to submit formal complaints, as concerns grow over discrepancies involving governorship and legislative candidates across Nigeria.

The development has triggered fresh political tensions, with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) opting for discussions with the electoral commission, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it has initiated legal action to challenge the omissions.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have also raised concerns over candidates whose names are missing from the published list.

INEC, however, has indicated that it will not respond to media reports about the omissions, signalling that affected parties should formally notify the commission of the discrepancies.

The NDC said it was engaging with INEC to resolve the matter within the 14-day window provided under the Electoral Act 2026 for correcting errors identified in candidate submissions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Director, said the NDC had not gone to court because it was still pursuing discussions with the commission.

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He said the party remained committed to exploring all available legal and constitutional options to ensure its candidates were recognised.

Among those reportedly affected is the NDC’s Kano State governorship candidate, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, whose running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, was also omitted from the list.

The party’s House of Representatives candidate in Kano, Yusuf Ibrahim Kotamata, attributed the omission to a possible error in the entry of candidates’ details. He said the party had received assurances that INEC was working to correct the discrepancy.

The NDC’s Cross River governorship candidate, John Upan Odey Jr, also described his omission as a possible bureaucratic error, adding that the problem affected candidates in other states.

The SDP, meanwhile, has taken a different approach. Its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Abiyegba, said the party had prepared an affidavit and served the electoral commission as part of its legal challenge.

He expressed confidence in the judicial process, indicating that the party had activated the necessary legal procedures to address the issue.

The omissions have also affected the PDP, whose governorship candidates in Oyo and Gombe states were reportedly absent from INEC’s final list.

In Oyo State, PDP candidate Oladipupo Adebulu maintained that he had completed his digital registration and submitted the required documentation within the stipulated period.

In Gombe State, Isa Pantami, who won a fresh PDP governorship primary on September 29 following a court-ordered rerun, was also missing from the published list alongside his running mate.

The ADC has similarly complained about the omission of its Cross River governorship candidate.

The discrepancies have raised questions about candidate nomination procedures, compliance with electoral laws and the verification of information submitted by political parties.

The controversy comes after the Supreme Court restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and participation in primaries. The provisions require parties to use membership registers submitted to INEC within the prescribed period and restrict participation in primaries to eligible registered members.

The court ruling has become relevant to disputes surrounding some of the omitted candidates, although INEC’s published list does not specify the reason for each omission.

Political parties are now seeking clarification and possible corrections, while some affected candidates have expressed confidence that the matter can still be resolved through administrative engagement or legal proceedings.

With preparations for the 2027 elections gathering momentum, the dispute places renewed attention on the accuracy of INEC’s candidate records and the importance of resolving nomination controversies in accordance with electoral law.

The outcome of the complaints and court proceedings could determine whether the affected candidates are eventually included in the final list, depending on the applicable legal requirements and the circumstances of each case.