The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, with the absence of some prominent political figures generating fresh questions about the contest.
Among those missing from the published lists are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State.
Their running mates are also absent from the respective lists published by the electoral commission.
The development was reported on Saturday, October 10, 2026, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Pantami, Adebutu Missing from INEC Lists
According to reports by TheCable and Peoples Gazette, INEC’s final list for Ogun State contains 13 governorship candidates, while the Gombe State list contains 16 candidates.
However, neither list includes a PDP governorship candidate.
In Ogun State, the list identifies Senator Solomon Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its governorship candidate, with Kudirat Balogun as his running mate.
In Gombe State, Jamil Gwamna is listed as the APC governorship candidate, with Balah Adams as his running mate.
The omissions have attracted attention because both Pantami and Adebutu had been associated with the PDP’s governorship bids in their respective states.
Although reports have linked the development to a Supreme Court judgment concerning compliance with political party membership-register requirements, the precise circumstances surrounding the omission of the candidates should be distinguished from the commission’s published list.
What Happened to the Rivers State List?
Another development concerns Rivers State, where the final governorship candidates’ list was not available alongside the published lists for other states as of Saturday.
The situation comes amid controversy surrounding the APC’s governorship nomination process in the state.
However, it remains unclear whether the Rivers list had yet to be uploaded or whether INEC intended to publish it separately.
When Will the 2027 Governorship Elections Hold?
According to INEC’s published election calendar, the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The electoral commission had earlier indicated that 21 of Nigeria’s 22 registered political parties submitted candidates for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
The nominations covered 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates, alongside 9,692 candidates for State House of Assembly seats.
The final publication represents an important stage in preparations for the elections, as the commission identifies the candidates appearing on its official lists.
What Nigerians Should Know
The publication of the final list is important because it provides voters with an official reference for identifying candidates and their political parties ahead of election day.
However, the absence of a candidate from a published list does not, by itself, explain the legal or administrative circumstances behind the omission.
Voters and political stakeholders should therefore consult INEC’s official records for the relevant state and follow any subsequent official clarification or court decision.
For the official records, visit INEC’s website: https://www.inecnigeria.org/