The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections in Ogun and Gombe states, leaving out prominent aspirants Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami.
The lists, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published on the commission’s website on Saturday, contain 13 candidates for Ogun and 16 for Gombe, with no PDP candidate listed in either state.
Adebutu’s omission comes amid controversy over his name’s reported absence from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
Some groups had questioned his eligibility, alleging that his name was missing from the register. However, the Ogun PDP rejected the claims, insisting that Adebutu was a registered member and that the party complied with legal requirements for registering members and submitting its register to the commission.
In Gombe, 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 and directed the party to conduct 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 held on September 29, defeating Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
However, INEC’s final lists provide no explanation for the omission of the two candidates or the absence of the PDP from both states.
Last week, INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said 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, if a nominated candidate’s name is missing.
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