The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship figures Ladi Adebutu and Isa Pantami from its final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections in Ogun and Gombe states, respectively.
The omission leaves the PDP without a listed governorship candidate in either state, despite Pantami’s emergence from a fresh party primary in Gombe.
INEC’s final list contains 13 governorship candidates for Ogun State and 16 for Gombe State. However, neither list includes a PDP candidate or the party’s running mate.
In Ogun State, Adebutu and his running mate are missing from the list, which names Solomon Olamilekan Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its governorship candidate, with Kudirat Balogun as his running mate.
In Gombe State, the commission listed Jamil Gwamna as the APC governorship candidate, with Balah Adams as his running mate.
The lists contain candidates’ names, political parties, running mates, ages, genders, educational qualifications and other relevant details.
The omissions come amid disputes surrounding the PDP’s governorship tickets in both states and questions about compliance with electoral requirements.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, recently emerged as the PDP’s candidate in Gombe after a fresh primary conducted following a court order that nullified his earlier nomination.
Adebutu, who had been the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun, has also faced questions over his eligibility amid allegations that his name was missing from the party’s membership register submitted to INEC. The Ogun PDP has rejected the allegations, maintaining that Adebutu was a registered member and that the party complied with the relevant requirements.
The developments have drawn further attention following a Supreme Court ruling on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and participation in primaries. However, INEC’s published lists do not specify the reasons for the two candidates’ omission.
A review of INEC’s website also showed that the commission had uploaded the final list of governorship candidates for Rivers State.
The development adds to the political uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 governorship elections in Ogun and Gombe, with the status of its tickets in both states requiring further clarification from the electoral commission and the party.