Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve the exclusion of some of its candidates from the commission’s final lists for the 2027 elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that the party disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026, through its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, who said the leadership was treating the development seriously and seeking a resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.
The affected candidates include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami, who emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Ladi Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State. Their names, alongside those of their running mates, were missing from INEC’s final governorship lists published on Saturday, October 10. The commission did not state why they were omitted.
The PDP urged the affected candidates, party members and supporters to remain calm and exercise patience while discussions with INEC continue. The party also advised them to avoid actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing engagement, adding that it would communicate further developments when necessary.
The development follows a September 24 Supreme Court judgment that restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and candidate nominations. Under Section 77(5), party membership registers must be submitted to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions. Section 77(7) provides that a party that fails to submit its register within the stipulated period cannot field a candidate for the election.
INEC had earlier said it would meet to determine the implications of the judgment for the 2027 elections, warning that some political parties might be unable to field candidates if they failed to comply with the law. The commission’s reasons for omitting the affected PDP candidates had not been stated in the published lists as of October 11.
