Omission of candidates: INEC demands formal complaints
By Henry Umoru & Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have taken different approaches to the omission of some of their governorship candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s final list ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the NDC opting for negotiations while the SDP has activated legal proceedings.
The NDC said it had not gone to court, insisting that it was discussing with INEC to resolve the discrepancies and would explore the 14-day window provided by the Electoral Act 2026 to correct errors identified in its submission.
The SDP, however, said it had prepared an affidavit and served the commission as part of its legal challenge.
Speaking with Vanguard, NDC National Publicity Secretary, Araba Director, said the party was pursuing available legal and constitutional options to ensure its candidates were recognised. “We have not gone to court. As a party, we are still discussing with INEC to arrive on the same 14-day window provided of the Electoral Act 2026 to correct the errors that are noted in the publication,” he said.
Director added: “We are exploring all legal and constitutional means to ensure that all our candidates are duly recognised.”
But SDP National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Abiyegba, said the party had begun the legal process.
“We have done the affidavit, we are with it, we have served INEC. We have hope in the judiciary; the process, we have activated it,” he said.
INEC’s demands for formal complaints were not respond to media reports about the missing candidates and the affected political parties. INEC’s officials notified the commission.
Meanwhile, INEC said it would not respond to media reports about the missing candidates and the affected political parties.
Apart from the NDC and SDP, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have also complained about omissions.
The PDP’s governorship candidates in Oyo and Gombe states were missing from the list, as was the ADC’s candidate in Cross River and the SDP’s candidate in Benue.
In Kano, NDC governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, were omitted. NDC House of Representatives candidate in Kano, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kotamata, attributed the omission to an error in entering the candidates’ details, saying the party had received assurances that INEC was working to correct it.
He maintained that Gwarzo had completed his registration within the stipulated period and that the party submitted his details through INEC’s online portal.
The NDC’s Cross River governorship candidate, John Upan Odey Jr, also described the omission as a “bureaucratic error”, saying other states were affected.
PDP seeks resolution
The PDP said it had begun engaging INEC to resolve the omissions in accordance with electoral laws and guidelines.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the party was treating the matter seriously and remained committed to ensuring the legitimacy concerns were addressed.
In Ogun State, PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebulu, said his omission did not signify the end of his ambition, insisting that he had completed his digital registration and submitted the required documentation within the stipulated period.
In Benue, SDP candidate, Prof. Sebastian Hon, SAN, expressed optimism that his omission would be corrected.
The NDC, however, said it would not leave the matter to chance, pledging to use every available legal means to secure the inclusion of its candidates.
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