INEC approves 41 governorship petitions, rejects Adebutu but clears Pantami for 2027 polls
INEC has reviewed 69 governorship petitions from 12 parties across 26 states and 61 assembly petitions from 11 parties across 11 states, approving 41 and 25 respectively. The decisions follow complaints after INEC published final candidate lists on Oct 10.
Isa Pantami, PDP's Gombe governorship candidate, won his petition but inclusion remains subject to a pending court case. Ladi Adebutu, PDP's Ogun candidate, lost his review bid—both were originally excluded after a Sept 24 Supreme Court ruling restored Electoral Act sections requiring parties to submit membership registers by May 10, 2026.
INEC also removed wrongly published candidates whose names weren't on party registers. Updated lists will reflect changes on INEC's website. Governorship elections are Feb 6, 2027; presidential and National Assembly polls hold Jan 16.
With candidate lists still fluid due to court cases, will your state's ballot be finalized in time for you to make an informed choice?