Omitted candidates: INEC upholds 41 governorship petitions and rejects 28

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) upheld 41 of the 69 petitions challenging the final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections and rejected 28. Mohammed Kudu Haruna said the petitions came from 12 parties across 26 states and concerned omissions, disputed inclusions and alleged multiple nominations. A source said former minister Isa Ali Pantami and NDC Kano governorship candidate Abdulsalam Gwarzo had been cleared to run, subject to pending court cases, while PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu’s petition in Ogun State failed. For State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions, of which 25 succeeded and 36 were rejected.