The omission of some governorship candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list ahead of the 2027 general elections has triggered concerns over political participation, electoral fairness and the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
In Kano and Gombe states, the omission of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Isa Ali Pantami, respectively, from INEC’s published list has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding their exclusion, with the NDC alleging political conspiracy and insisting that it complied with the nomination requirements.
The controversy has drawn reactions from political scientists and opposition party officials, who have called for transparency and accountability in the management of the electoral process.
Sufi questions consistency, warns against premature conclusions
A political scientist in Kano, Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, told DAILY POST that the omission of some candidates while others appeared on the final list had raised questions about the commission’s neutrality.
Sufi noted that the development had fuelled speculation about possible partiality, particularly concerning the treatment of candidates from different political parties.
“People saw some names and they did not see some names. So that raises serious questions,” he said.
He explained that the concerns were partly driven by comparisons between candidates whose names appeared on the list and those omitted in states such as Kano and Gombe.
Sufi cited the inclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Nasarawa State as examples that had prompted questions among political observers.
“Until that explanation is released and people are given satisfactory answers, people will have every reason to begin to see lack of neutrality or due diligence on the part of INEC in the release of the final list,” he said.
The political scientist said the commission’s explanation would be important in determining whether the omissions resulted from the application of electoral requirements or other administrative issues.
NDC alleges political conspiracy over Kano candidate’s omission
The Kano State chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Usaini Isah Mairiga, has alleged political conspiracy following the omission of his party’s governorship candidate from INEC’s final list.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Mairiga said the party had complied with the relevant requirements and expressed surprise that its candidate was not included.
“From the moment we discovered that our governorship candidate’s name was missing, we did not hear anything from the party’s stakeholders because we knew we had not violated any rules. We believe this is a political conspiracy,” he said.
The NDC chairman said the party had submitted a complaint and was awaiting a resolution, expressing confidence that its candidate would eventually be included.
He insisted that the party would not abandon its efforts to secure a place for its candidate on the ballot.
“But I assure you that we are not discouraged, and our candidate will return to the ballot,” Mairiga said.
PDP urges INEC to protect its credibility
The acting publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Kabiru Sani Mai Kwanika, said the omission of candidates could undermine democratic participation if eligible contestants were excluded from the electoral process.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Mai Kwanika insisted that political parties should have a fair opportunity to nominate candidates and compete in elections, provided they comply with the law.
“During the PDP’s reign, every political party had the opportunity to present its candidate, but what is happening now is not right,” he said.
He called on INEC to protect its institutional credibility and ensure that its decisions on candidate nominations were transparent and consistent.
“We have given everyone the freedom to participate. INEC should protect its integrity because the eyes of the world are now on Nigeria,” he said.
The PDP official also urged political parties to strengthen their engagement with legal practitioners and pay closer attention to electoral laws and nomination procedures.
“I urge political parties to work closely with lawyers to ensure they comply with the rules and remain vigilant about the law, especially where some people may want to exploit its provisions for personal gain,” he said.
Lawyer urges INEC to ensure fairness in candidate omissions
A legal practitioner, Barrister Nura Ahmad Muhammad, has said the omission of some governorship candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list ahead of the 2027 elections raises concerns about electoral justice and public confidence in the electoral process.
Muhammad, however, cautioned against interpreting the omissions as automatic evidence of bias or partiality, noting that INEC has a statutory responsibility to enforce electoral laws and relevant judicial decisions.
He said the commission must exercise that responsibility fairly, transparently and consistently, without political considerations.
According to him, the central issue is whether the affected candidates were excluded on valid legal grounds or as a result of administrative errors, arbitrary decisions or the improper application of the law.
Muhammad explained that INEC could be justified in excluding candidates where their political parties failed to meet mandatory statutory requirements. However, he said candidates who were wrongly excluded should be able to challenge the decisions through appropriate legal channels.
“To safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, INEC should provide clear reasons for exclusions, apply the law equally to all political parties, and establish transparent mechanisms for correcting genuine errors within the legally prescribed timelines,” he said.
He stressed that neither political interests nor administrative lapses should deprive an eligible candidate of the opportunity to participate in the democratic process, adding that the rule of law must prevail.
Electoral law at the centre of the controversy
The dispute over the missing candidates follows a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers.
The provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the prescribed period and use the submitted registers for primaries, congresses and conventions.
Following the judgment, INEC explained that it excluded some candidates because their parties had failed to comply with the membership-register requirements and were therefore ineligible to sponsor candidates in the affected elections.
INEC also said political parties that believed their candidates had been wrongly omitted had until October 24, 2026, to notify the commission of the alleged errors, in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The controversy raises questions about voters’ ability to choose among competing candidates and the extent to which procedural requirements can affect political representation.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the handling of the list of candidates is likely to remain an important test of electoral administration in Nigeria.
