By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 72 hours to include five of its governorship candidates and their running mates in the final list for the February 6, 2027 elections.
The demand was contained in a letter signed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, and National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu.
The party said the affected candidates were validly nominated and urged INEC to correct their omission from the list published on October 10.
The affected tickets are Abdulsalam Aminu Gwarzo and Rabiu Mustapha in Kano; Odey John Upan and Archibong Stella Charles in Cross River; Laah Danfuma Tella and Sani Bashir in Kaduna; Muktar Faruk Alhaji and Ayuba Shamsudeen in Kebbi; and Odusina Bolaji Marie and Adeyemni Yunus Adesina in Ogun State.
The NDC acknowledged INEC’s efforts towards credible elections but called on the commission to address the omissions.
The dispute comes amid broader concerns over the exclusion of several governorship candidates from the final list. INEC has attributed some omissions to parties’ failure to comply with legal requirements following a Supreme Court judgment on September 24, 2026.
However, INEC has separately given political parties until October 24 to notify it of candidates they believe were wrongly omitted, in line with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The NDC did not state what action it would take if the commission failed to meet its 72-hour demand.
Leave a Reply