The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of its governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states from the commission’s final list for the February 6, 2027 elections.
The affected candidates are Oladipupo Adebutu, who is seeking to govern Ogun State, and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the party’s candidate in Gombe State.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the party was working to resolve the matter in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.
Mohammed said the party was treating the omissions seriously and had commenced discussions with INEC to address the issues responsible for the development.
“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,” the statement read.
He added that the party would communicate further developments as the discussions progressed, assuring affected candidates that their concerns would be addressed.
The PDP also appealed to its members and supporters to remain calm and avoid actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing engagement with the electoral commission.
INEC released its final list of governorship candidates on Saturday, with 13 candidates listed for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State. However, neither list contained a PDP candidate.
The lists were signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on INEC’s website.
Adebutu’s omission comes amid questions over his membership registration details. Some groups had alleged that his name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC, but the Ogun State chapter of the party insisted that he was a registered member and that the necessary requirements had been fulfilled.
In Gombe State, Pantami’s omission followed a legal dispute over the process that produced him as the PDP governorship candidate.
A Federal High Court in Gombe had earlier nullified his initial emergence and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary election. Pantami subsequently won the rerun primary held on September 29, 2026.
INEC has not provided a specific explanation for the omission of the two candidates from the published lists.
