The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published updated lists of candidates for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, featuring several prominent politicians, including former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The updated lists, published on October 31, 2026, followed the commission’s review of petitions from candidates and political parties who challenged omissions and other nomination-related decisions. The changes have affected several governorship and legislative contests ahead of the elections.
Key Highlights
- Ovie Omo-Agege is listed as the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Delta Central.
- Former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo appears as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ogun Central.
- Former minister Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has been included as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.
- Haruna Ahmadu Hasan is listed as Pantami’s running mate.
- Abdulsalam Gwarzo and Ladi Adebutu remain excluded from the updated governorship list, according to reports.
- INEC reviewed 130 petitions relating to governorship and State House of Assembly candidates.
Omo-Agege, Iyabo Obasanjo Make INEC’s 2027 Senate Candidates List
Among the prominent names featured in the updated senatorial candidates list are Ovie Omo-Agege and Iyabo Obasanjo.
Omo-Agege, a former Deputy President of the Senate, is listed as the NDC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District. He is seeking a return to the Senate after previously representing the district.
He reportedly joined the NDC after failing to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.
Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is listed as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District.
She previously represented the district in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.
Their inclusion follows concerns over the implications of a Supreme Court judgment on political party membership registers and the eligibility of candidates who changed political parties ahead of the nomination process.
INEC Includes Pantami in Updated Gombe Governorship List
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has also been included in the updated list as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.
Haruna Ahmadu Hasan is listed as his running mate.
Pantami’s inclusion reverses his earlier omission from the governorship candidates list published on October 10, 2026.
His nomination had faced legal and procedural challenges linked to the submission of party membership registers and a court-ordered rerun of the party primary.
INEC’s review subsequently approved his petition, although the commission indicated that his inclusion remained subject to the outcome of pending court proceedings.
Gwarzo, Adebutu Remain Off INEC’s Updated List
While some candidates secured inclusion following the review, others remain absent from the updated list.
Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, remains excluded. INEC reportedly left the party’s governorship candidate position blank and entered “Court Order” in the remarks column.
His inclusion remains tied to the outcome of pending court proceedings.
Similarly, Ladi Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, was not included in the updated list after INEC rejected his petition seeking a review of the earlier decision.
The exclusions leave unresolved questions over the affected parties’ participation in the 2027 governorship elections in Kano and Ogun states.
INEC Reviews 130 Petitions Over 2027 Election Candidates
The updated lists followed INEC’s review of complaints submitted by candidates and political parties after the commission published its initial final lists of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates on October 10, 2026.
According to the commission, it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates. Of these, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. The commission approved 25 petitions and rejected 36.
In total, INEC considered 130 petitions, approving 66 and rejecting 64.
The commission said its decisions followed a review of the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions. It also removed some candidates whose names had been wrongly included in earlier lists after verification against the membership registers submitted by their political parties.
The changes resulted in the inclusion of additional candidates and the removal or substitution of some previously published names.
Read also:
- INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo For 2027 Elections, Rejects Adebutu’s Appeal
- Omo-Agege Insists 2027 Senate Bid Is Alive as INEC Ruling Sparks Membership Register Dispute
- Electoral Act 2026: Omo-Agege, Ochei, Other Defectors Face Fresh Test After Supreme Court Ruling
Supreme Court Judgment on Electoral Act Influences Candidate Review
The candidate disputes followed a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning the submission of political party membership registers to INEC.
The provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period. They also establish requirements concerning party membership and participation in primary elections.
The judgment intensified scrutiny of candidate nominations, particularly where questions arose over party membership records and changes in political affiliation.
Candidates and political parties affected by omissions subsequently submitted complaints to INEC under the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act.
INEC Says 2027 Election Timetable Remains in Place
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has separately indicated that the commission has no plans to postpone the 2027 general elections.
The updated candidate lists cover presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly contests.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The latest changes provide updated information on candidates cleared by the commission following its review, although some nominations remain subject to pending court cases.
Further judicial decisions and developments in the affected political parties could still influence the final position of some candidates ahead of the elections.
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