NDC gives INEC 72 hours to include five governorship candidates in final list

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 72 hours to include five of its governorship candidates and their operating mates in the final list for the February 6, 2027, elections.

The social gathering made the demand in a letter signed by its National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, and National Secretary, Barrister Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu.

The NDC mentioned the affected people had been validly nominated to contest the governorship elections and urged the electoral physique to rectify their omission from the revealed list.

In Kano State, the social gathering’s candidate is Abdulsalam (*72*) Gwarzo, with Rabiu Mustapha as his operating mate. In Cross River State, it nominated Odey John Upan, alongside Archibong Stella Charles, whereas Laah Danfuma Tella and Sani Bashir are its candidates in Kaduna State.

The different affected tickets are Muktar Faruk Alhaji and Ayuba Shamsudeen in Kebbi State, in addition to Odusina Bolaji Marie and Adeyemni Yunus Adesina in Ogun State.

The social gathering outlined its issues in a letter titled “Omission of Names of Our Gubernatorial and Their Deputies.” It additionally acknowledged INEC’s efforts in direction of credible elections whereas calling for the inclusion of the omitted names.

INEC launched its final list of governorship candidates on October 10.

The growth has prompted objections from affected politicians and political events, which have sought clarification from the fee over the exclusions.

INEC has attributed a few of the omissions to political events’ failure to meet authorized necessities for submitting membership registers and conducting primaries. The fee cited a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, regarding provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The provisions require events to submit their membership registers to INEC inside the prescribed interval and limit participation in primaries to members whose names seem on the submitted registers.

According to the fee, candidates had been excluded in some instances as a result of their events had not fulfilled the related membership-register necessities earlier than conducting their primaries.

The affected candidates minimize throughout social gathering traces, with PDP governorship candidates in Gombe and Ogun states additionally reportedly lacking from the final list.

The NDC didn’t specify its subsequent plan of action if INEC fails to meet the 72-hour deadline.