PDP candidates Adebutu, Pantami missing from INEC final gov list

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, omitting PDP candidates Ladi Adebutu from Ogun and Isa Ali Pantami from Gombe. Neither Adebutu nor Pantami are listed among the 13 and 16 candidates respectively from these states. The absence of Adebutu has sparked questions over his eligibility, as some groups allege his name is missing from the PDP's membership register submitted to INEC.

However, the Ogun PDP has rejected these allegations, stating that Adebutu is indeed a registered member. Pantami's omission follows a court dispute over the process that initially produced him as the PDP's candidate, which a Federal High Court in Gombe ruled as invalid due to non-compliance with party procedures and electoral laws.

The lists do not provide an explanation for the omissions, and parties failing to comply with the membership-register requirements may face disqualification.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.