Premium News Naija: 2027 Election: INEC Omits PDP’s Ladi Adebutu, Isa Pantami from Final Governorship List

By Premium News Naija Correspondent

The political landscape ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 governorship elections has taken a significant turn following the publication of the final candidate lists by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the governorship contests in Ogun and Gombe states.

The development leaves Oladipupo Ladi Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, and Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the party’s candidate in Gombe State, absent from the commission’s published final lists for the February 6, 2027 elections.

According to reports published on October 10, 2026, INEC’s final list contains 13 governorship candidates for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State, with neither state’s list featuring a PDP candidate. The documents were signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The omission has raised fresh questions about candidate nomination procedures, compliance with electoral requirements and the PDP’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.

INEC Final List Raises Questions for Ogun PDP

In Ogun State, the absence of Adebutu from the final governorship candidate list presents a major development for the PDP as political parties prepare for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

Adebutu had emerged as the party’s governorship candidate following its primary election earlier in 2026. His emergence positioned him as the PDP’s principal contender in its attempt to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

However, concerns had emerged over his eligibility after allegations that his name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.

The issue is significant because compliance with party membership and candidate nomination requirements forms part of the electoral process through which political parties present candidates for public office.

The Ogun State PDP rejected the allegations, insisting that Adebutu was a registered party member and that the party had complied with the applicable requirements for membership registration and submission of its register to INEC.

Despite the party’s position, Adebutu’s name did not appear on the published final list. The document itself did not provide a specific explanation for the omission.

The absence of an official explanation means that the precise administrative or legal reason for the omission should not be assumed without further clarification from INEC or the party.

Pantami Also Missing from Gombe Governorship List

The situation in Gombe State presents a separate but equally important challenge for the opposition party.

Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, is also missing from INEC’s final list of governorship candidates for the state, despite winning a fresh PDP primary conducted in September.

His candidacy had been affected by a legal dispute concerning the process through which he initially emerged as the party’s flagbearer.

On September 24, 2026, the Federal High Court in Gombe nullified his initial emergence and directed the PDP to conduct another primary within 30 days. The court reportedly found that the earlier process did not comply with the party’s procedures and applicable electoral laws.

Following the ruling, the party conducted a rerun primary on September 29, during which Pantami defeated Khamisu Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.

His subsequent absence from the final list has therefore raised questions about the implications of the court proceedings, the rerun primary and the documentation submitted to the electoral commission.

As with Adebutu’s case, INEC’s published list does not specify why Pantami was omitted. Further clarification from the commission and the PDP would be necessary to establish the precise circumstances surrounding his exclusion.

What the Electoral Act Says About Missing Candidates

The development has drawn attention to the legal framework governing political party nominations and the publication of candidates’ names ahead of elections.

According to reports on the provisions of Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, a political party has 14 days to notify INEC in writing, with an affidavit, where a nominated candidate’s name is missing from the published list.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, had also warned that political parties that failed to comply with membership-register requirements would not be permitted to field affected candidates or substitute them.

These requirements underline the importance of accurate documentation, proper membership registration and compliance with electoral procedures before the publication of final candidate lists.

However, the exact remedy available in any particular case depends on the applicable law, the circumstances surrounding the omission and whether the relevant statutory conditions have been satisfied.

The affected parties would therefore need to establish the facts of their respective cases and determine the appropriate legal or administrative steps available to them.

Major Implications for the PDP Ahead of 2027

The omission of the PDP’s candidates in Ogun and Gombe could have significant implications for the party’s electoral preparations if the situation remains unresolved.

First, the development introduces uncertainty into the party’s governorship campaigns in two states where it had already selected candidates through its internal processes.

Second, the situation could affect campaign planning, fundraising, grassroots mobilisation and the ability of party supporters to organise around the candidates they expected to represent the PDP.

Third, the developments may intensify internal discussions about the management of party primaries, membership records, nomination documents and compliance with electoral deadlines.

For an opposition party seeking to compete effectively against the APC and other political platforms, procedural disputes can become a significant distraction from policy communication and voter engagement.

Nevertheless, the absence of the candidates from the published lists does not, by itself, establish every remaining legal or administrative option available to the party. The next steps will depend on the applicable statutory provisions, the facts of each case and any subsequent official decisions.

Ogun 2027 Governorship Race Enters a Critical Phase

In Ogun State, the development adds another layer of uncertainty to an increasingly competitive political environment ahead of the 2027 election.

The published list includes Solomon Adeola of the APC among the candidates contesting the governorship election. The absence of Adebutu means the PDP’s position in the published field requires particular attention as the electoral process moves forward.

The consequences extend beyond the immediate contest between political parties. Ogun residents will be watching how the situation develops, particularly because the governorship election will determine the leadership and policy direction of the state for the next four years.

Issues such as employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, local government administration and economic development are expected to remain important considerations for voters.

Political parties must therefore balance their efforts to resolve nomination-related questions with the broader responsibility of communicating their programmes and engaging the electorate.

For the PDP, obtaining clarity on Adebutu’s status will be important in determining how the party proceeds with its governorship strategy in Ogun State.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority is clarification from the relevant authorities and the affected political party.

INEC’s final candidate lists provide the formal picture of the candidates published for the elections, but questions surrounding the two omissions remain significant. Any further action would need to follow the applicable legal procedures and electoral timetable.

The PDP will need to examine the circumstances surrounding the omissions in both states and determine the lawful options available to it. Adebutu’s case involves questions concerning the party membership register, while Pantami’s case follows a court dispute and a subsequent rerun primary.

Although both candidates are affected by the same published outcome, their cases involve distinct circumstances and should not automatically be treated as legally identical.

Further official statements, court proceedings or electoral updates may provide additional clarity on whether the situation will change before the election.

Conclusion

The exclusion of Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami from INEC’s final governorship candidate lists has introduced fresh uncertainty into the PDP’s preparations for the February 6, 2027 elections in Ogun and Gombe states.

While Adebutu’s case has been linked to questions about the PDP membership register submitted to INEC, Pantami’s absence follows a legal dispute over his initial nomination and a subsequent rerun primary.

With neither state’s published list featuring a PDP governorship candidate, the party faces important questions about compliance, nomination procedures and its next steps.

The key issue now is whether further clarification or lawful action will change the position before the elections. Until additional official information becomes available, the precise reasons for the omissions and their ultimate consequences remain matters requiring clarification.

Premium News Naija will continue to follow developments surrounding INEC, the PDP and the 2027 governorship elections.

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Saturday, October 10, 2026

2027 Election: INEC Omits PDP’s Ladi Adebutu, Isa Pantami from Final Governorship List