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.

A witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the proscribed terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) allegedly planned the Oriire school kidnappings in Oyo State with support from Al-Qaeda, seeking to pressure the Federal Government into releasing 30 detained members.

The DSS operative, identified by the code name BBB, gave the account on Monday, October 12, 2026, while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the group’s activities.

According to the witness, the May 15 attacks in Oriire Local Government Area were part of a wider strategy to use high-profile kidnappings to compel the government to negotiate the release of ANSARU members, including its leaders.

He told the court that the attackers abducted pupils, students and teachers from schools in the area and moved them to a forest near the Old Oyo National Park.

The terrorists allegedly presented a list of 30 detained members they wanted released and threatened to kill the hostages if the government failed to meet their demands.

The witness said the group had adopted a strategy of carrying out attacks and kidnappings whenever its members were arrested, hoping to use the safety of abducted victims as leverage against the authorities.

BBB, who was involved in the investigation, identified Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar, as one of ANSARU’s founding members.

He alleged that Muhammad had previously served as head of security and intelligence within Boko Haram before leaving the group in 2012 to establish ANSARU alongside other members.

The witness further identified Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, as the group’s alleged head of operations.

According to his testimony, ANSARU members planned attacks on prominent targets as part of efforts to secure the release of detained commanders and other members.

He cited the November 4, 2025, attack on the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a member of the House of Representatives representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, as an earlier operation allegedly linked to the strategy.

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The witness said four military personnel were killed and four DSS personnel injured during the attack. He alleged that the assailants intended to abduct the lawmaker and use the incident to intensify pressure on the government.

BBB also told the court that the group had planned to attack the Wawa military base in New Bussa, Niger State, because members believed some of their detained colleagues were being held there.

When that plan failed, the group allegedly shifted some of its operations towards the South-West, where it believed attacks and kidnappings would attract public attention and increase pressure on the authorities.

Regarding the Oriire abductions, the witness said security agencies launched an operation against the group’s hideout after efforts to secure the release of the hostages encountered resistance.

He alleged that two victims were killed during the crisis and that the attackers threatened to kill more hostages as security personnel advanced towards their location.

According to BBB, the terrorists opened fire on security operatives during the operation, escalating the confrontation.

He said security agencies eventually rescued the remaining captives, although the operation resulted in casualties among security personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer.

The witness also alleged that security operatives took the wife of the second defendant and other relatives of suspected commanders into custody in an effort to discourage further killings of hostages.

He told the court that the measure contributed to a halt in the killings before the rescue operation was completed.

During his testimony, BBB also discussed ANSARU’s history and ideology, including its alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of foreign nationals.

He said the group justified such operations by accusing foreign nationals of involvement in the killing of Muslims in other countries.

The witness recalled that the killing of seven foreign nationals in 2014 contributed to the United States designating ANSARU as a terrorist organisation and declaring Muhammad wanted internationally.

The five defendants standing trial are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.

They are accused of links to the proscribed group and involvement in its activities, including the attacks and kidnappings under investigation.

The prosecution’s allegations remain subject to judicial determination as the trial continues. The court will assess the evidence presented before reaching any decision on the defendants’ culpability.