The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not respond to media reports concerning the omission of some political parties’ candidates from its final list ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that affected parties should submit formal complaints.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have adopted different approaches to resolving the issue. While the NDC is engaging the commission to correct the discrepancies, the SDP has initiated legal proceedings, expressing confidence in the judiciary.
The NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Director, said the party had yet to approach the court, adding that it was exploring the 14-day window provided under the Electoral Act 2026 to correct errors in its submissions. He said the party would pursue all available legal and constitutional options to ensure its candidates were recognised.
However, the SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Abiyegba, said the party had prepared an affidavit and served INEC as part of its legal challenge.
Other affected parties include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The PDP’s governorship candidates in Oyo and Gombe states, the ADC’s candidate in Cross River State, and the SDP’s candidate in Benue State were reportedly missing from the list.
In Kano State, the NDC’s governorship candidate, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, were also omitted. The party attributed the development to a possible administrative error, insisting that the candidates completed their registration within the stipulated period.
The PDP said it had begun engaging INEC to resolve the omissions in line with electoral laws and guidelines. Its governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebulu, maintained that he had completed his digital registration and submitted the required documents on time.
The affected parties are seeking corrections to ensure their candidates are included in the final list ahead of the 2027 elections.
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