The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing growing calls for transparency following the exclusion of some governorship candidates from its final list for the 2027 general elections, with political stakeholders raising concerns about electoral fairness, compliance with the law and voters’ right to choose their leaders.
The controversy centres on the absence of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in Kano State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State. The NDC has alleged a political conspiracy over its candidate’s exclusion, maintaining that it fulfilled the requirements for participation in the election.
The development has prompted reactions from political analysts, opposition party representatives and legal practitioners, who have urged the electoral commission to explain the basis for its decisions and demonstrate that the rules governing candidate nominations are being applied consistently.
Political scientist questions INEC’s neutrality
A Kano-based political scientist, Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, said the absence of certain candidates from the published list, despite the inclusion of others across different states, had raised questions about the commission’s impartiality.
Sufi observed that the situation had generated speculation about whether INEC applied the same standards to all political parties, particularly given the contrasting outcomes for candidates contesting governorship elections in different states.
“People saw some names and they did not see some names. So that raises serious questions,” he said.
He pointed to the inclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Nasarawa State as examples that had prompted further questions among political observers.
The political scientist cautioned that public confidence could suffer if the commission failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancies.
“Until that explanation is released and people are given satisfactory answers, people will have every reason to begin to see lack of neutrality or due diligence on the part of INEC in the release of the final list,” he said.
Sufi added that the commission’s response would help establish whether the affected candidates were excluded because of legitimate electoral requirements or administrative shortcomings.
NDC alleges conspiracy over Gwarzo’s exclusion
The Kano State chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Usaini Isah Mairiga, has accused unnamed political interests of conspiring against his party following the omission of Gwarzo from INEC’s final list.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Mairiga said the party was surprised by the development because, according to him, it had met the relevant nomination requirements.
“From the moment we discovered that our governorship candidate’s name was missing, we did not hear anything from the party’s stakeholders because we knew we had not violated any rules. We believe this is a political conspiracy,” he said.
Mairiga disclosed that the party had submitted a complaint to the commission and was awaiting a resolution. He expressed optimism that the matter would be addressed and that its candidate would be restored to the ballot.
He maintained that the party would continue pursuing the issue rather than accept the exclusion without a resolution.
“But I assure you that we are not discouraged, and our candidate will return to the ballot,” Mairiga said.
PDP calls for transparency in candidate selection
The acting publicity secretary of the PDP in Kano State, Kabiru Sani Mai Kwanika, warned that excluding eligible contestants could weaken democratic participation and deny voters the opportunity to choose from a wider range of candidates.
In his interview with DAILY POST, Mai Kwanika argued that all political parties should be allowed to field candidates provided they satisfy the legal conditions governing elections.
“During the PDP’s reign, every political party had the opportunity to present its candidate, but what is happening now is not right,” he said.
He urged INEC to protect its reputation by ensuring that decisions affecting candidates were based on transparent and consistently applied rules.
“We have given everyone the freedom to participate. INEC should protect its integrity because the eyes of the world are now on Nigeria,” he said.
The PDP official also advised political parties to work more closely with legal practitioners to avoid procedural mistakes and understand the provisions of electoral law. He warned that inadequate legal guidance could leave parties vulnerable to the misuse of statutory provisions by individuals pursuing personal interests.
“I urge political parties to work closely with lawyers to ensure they comply with the rules and remain vigilant about the law, especially where some people may want to exploit its provisions for personal gain,” he said.
Lawyer calls for clear reasons for exclusions
Legal practitioner Barrister Nura Ahmad Muhammad said the controversy had brought electoral justice and public confidence into focus, but cautioned against treating the omission of candidates as conclusive proof of bias.
Muhammad told DAILY POST that INEC had a legal obligation to enforce electoral laws and comply with relevant court judgments. However, he stressed that the commission must discharge those responsibilities without political interference and apply the law fairly to all parties.
He said the decisive question was whether the affected candidates had been excluded on valid legal grounds or whether administrative errors, arbitrary decisions or improper interpretations of the law were responsible.
According to the lawyer, INEC could lawfully reject candidates whose parties failed to satisfy mandatory statutory conditions. However, candidates who believed they had been wrongly excluded should have the opportunity to challenge such decisions through the appropriate legal procedures.
“To safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, INEC should provide clear reasons for exclusions, apply the law equally to all political parties, and establish transparent mechanisms for correcting genuine errors within the legally prescribed timelines,” he said.
Muhammad maintained that neither political interests nor administrative failures should prevent an eligible candidate from contesting an election, insisting that electoral decisions must remain subject to the rule of law.
Supreme Court ruling and Electoral Act requirements
The dispute follows a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers.
Under the provisions, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period. The submitted registers are also to serve as the basis for conducting party primaries, congresses and conventions.
Following the judgment, INEC said some candidates were left off the final list because their political parties had failed to comply with the membership-register requirements, making them ineligible to sponsor candidates in the affected elections.
The commission also stated that political parties disputing the omission of their candidates had until October 24, 2026, to notify it of alleged errors, in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The provision offers an avenue for affected parties to raise concerns about possible mistakes in the published list within the prescribed period.
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the dispute underscores the importance of clear communication between INEC and political parties, particularly where the enforcement of nomination requirements could determine who appears on the ballot.
Beyond the immediate concerns in Kano and Gombe, the commission’s handling of complaints and its explanation of the exclusions will be closely watched as part of broader efforts to sustain public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Leave feedback about this