The release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission has sparked mixed reactions following the omission of prominent opposition figures, including a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.
While the Ogun PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of mounting pressure on INEC to exclude its candidate, Pantami’s camp urged supporters to remain calm. Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano, is yet to react.
There was jubilation among supporters of politicians whose names came under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court ruling that raised doubts about their qualification.
INEC published the names of candidates contesting the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections on its website on Saturday, marking a significant stage in preparations for the 2027 polls.
Sunday PUNCH review of the list shows that it contains 18 presidential candidates.
Among the prominent figures whose names appeared on the list were President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, listed under the Allied Peoples Movement.
The list also includes governorship candidates across 26 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara.
