PDP speaks on candidates’ omission from INEC’s list, says it will be addressed

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is engaging with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve the omission of some of its candidates from the commission’s final list for the 2027 governorship elections.

The party said its leadership, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, was treating the development seriously and seeking an amicable resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, stated this in a statement on Sunday.

“The party wishes to assure all affected candidates, members and supporters that it is already engaging with INEC to address the issues responsible for the omissions, with a view to securing an amicable resolution in accordance with the law and established electoral guidelines,” he said.

Mr Mohammed urged the affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm and exercise patience while the party engages with the electoral commission.

He also cautioned them against actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing discussions.

The PDP reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all legitimate concerns arising from the omissions were addressed.

“Consequently, the party calls on all affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm, exercise patience and refrain from actions or statements capable of undermining the ongoing engagements with the commission,” the statement added.

INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, published on Saturday, did not include PDP candidates in Ogun and Gombe states.

The commission omitted the party’s governorship candidates in the two states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Pantami, respectively, as well as their running mates. INEC listed 13 candidates for Ogun and 16 for Gombe, but neither list included a PDP candidate.

The omissions come amid disputes over the candidates’ nomination processes and questions about compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 provisions governing political party membership registers and participation in primaries.

READ ALSO: PDP speaks on Pantami’s omission from Gombe governorship candidates’ list

On 24 September, the Supreme Court restored the Electoral Act provision requiring political parties to use membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period when conducting primaries. The provisions also restrict participation in party primaries to members whose names appear on the relevant registers.

Mr Pantami’s omission followed a separate legal dispute over his nomination. The Federal High Court in Gombe had nullified his initial emergence as the PDP governorship candidate and ordered a fresh primary, which he won on 29 September.

In Ogun, Mr Adebutu’s omission came amid questions raised by groups over whether his name appeared on the PDP membership register submitted to INEC. The Ogun PDP rejected the concerns, insisting that Mr Adebutu had completed the required membership registration procedures.

INEC has not explained the omissions in the published lists. The affected candidates’ camps have, however, expressed confidence that the issues can be resolved through engagements with the electoral commission and the relevant legal processes.