Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has advised political candidates whose names were omitted from the final lists published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider further legal action, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling on political party membership requirements has provided clear direction on the matter.

Sani urged the affected aspirants to stop spending money, time and energy pursuing lawsuits that, in his view, are unlikely to produce the desired outcome. He advised them to accept the situation, assess their political options and begin preparations for future elections.

The former lawmaker’s comments come amid controversy surrounding the omission of some prominent politicians from INEC’s final lists of governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In September, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court upheld an appeal filed by INEC, restoring Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act. The provisions address political party membership registers and participation in party activities, including requirements governing primaries, congresses and conventions.

Specifically, Section 77(5) provides that only members whose names are contained in a political party’s membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary, congress or convention are eligible to participate in the relevant exercise.

The ruling has brought renewed attention to compliance with statutory requirements for political party membership and candidate selection, particularly as political parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.

Reacting to the development in a post on X, Sani described the Supreme Court’s decision as sufficiently clear to guide the commission’s actions in excluding certain names from its published candidate lists.

“The Supreme Court ruling that enabled INEC to exclude some names of candidates is very clear,” he wrote.

He warned the affected politicians against committing additional resources to prolonged legal disputes, insisting that their time and money would be better invested in planning for subsequent elections.

“Affected candidates should not waste their money, time and energy fighting a lost battle,” Sani added.

The former senator also appealed to lawyers representing the affected candidates, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), to exercise caution before encouraging their clients to institute fresh legal proceedings.

According to him, legal practitioners should consider the financial and political implications of continued litigation and avoid raising expectations that may ultimately leave their clients with further expenses and disappointment.

“I also wish to appeal to those Barristers and SANs to ‘pity’ those candidates and allow them to rest, and not mislead them into spending more money ‘filing fresh suits’. Four years will come and go; let them strategise for the future,” he said.

ADEBUTU, PANTAMI ABSENT FROM INEC LISTS

Sani’s intervention comes against the backdrop of the omission of some high-profile politicians from INEC’s final lists of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.

Among those affected is Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, whose name, alongside that of his running mate, is missing from the commission’s published list for the state.

Adebutu’s omission is significant given his position within the PDP’s political structure in Ogun State and the implications the development could have for the party’s preparations for the governorship contest.

A similar situation has emerged in Gombe State, where Isa Pantami, who recently won a fresh PDP governorship primary, is also absent from INEC’s final list. His running mate is equally missing from the published document.

The developments have raised questions about the status of the affected candidates and the circumstances surrounding their exclusion from the commission’s records.

However, INEC’s published documents do not provide explanations for the omission of Adebutu, Pantami and their respective running mates. Consequently, the specific reasons for their absence from the lists remain unclear based on the documents referenced.

The omissions could have significant implications for the affected politicians and their parties as they seek to finalise their preparations for the 2027 elections.

For the PDP, the situation presents an additional challenge in states where the party is positioning itself to contest governorship elections against the ruling party and other political contenders.

Sani’s remarks therefore underscore the growing importance of strict compliance with electoral laws and party procedures, particularly the statutory requirements governing membership registers and participation in party primaries.

His advice also highlights the financial and strategic costs of prolonged electoral litigation, especially for politicians whose eligibility or nomination is being contested.

Nevertheless, whether the affected candidates will accept the situation or pursue further legal remedies remains to be seen. Their next steps could shape their political prospects and influence their parties’ preparations for the 2027 electoral contests.

Pd

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to omit its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, and his running mate from the list of candidates ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The PDP, however, expressed confidence that the names of its candidates would eventually be published, urging party supporters and residents of the state to remain calm.

The party’s position was contained in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, who alleged that the omission was politically motivated and linked to the APC’s concerns about the forthcoming election.

Adebayo maintained that Adebutu remained a bona fide member of the PDP, insisting that the former governorship candidate in the 2023 election had never left the party.

He said Adebutu completed the party’s digital registration within the stipulated period, adding that his membership card was printed, verified and submitted to INEC as required.

The PDP spokesman alleged that the ruling party mounted undue pressure on the electoral commission to prevent the publication of its candidate’s name. He nevertheless assured supporters that the development would not stop Adebutu from participating in the 2027 governorship election.

The party called on its supporters not to be distracted by the controversy, urging them to remain focused on preparations for the election.

However, the APC dismissed the allegations, accusing the PDP of attempting to shift responsibility for what it described as the party’s failure to comply with electoral procedures.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the state capital, the APC Campaign Council’s Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee, Kayode Odunaro, said the party was prepared to contest the election against any candidate duly certified by INEC.

Odunaro questioned the PDP’s claim that the APC influenced the electoral commission, arguing that the omission resulted from alleged administrative lapses and non-compliance with established rules.

He also claimed that candidates in other states had encountered similar problems over failure to meet legal requirements, insisting that the PDP should address its internal and administrative challenges rather than blame the ruling party.

The APC further rejected attempts to link it and its governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, to the controversy.

The dispute over the publication of the candidates’ list adds another dimension to the political contest ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, with both parties offering sharply contrasting explanations for Adebutu’s omission.

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on political parties and their candidates to conduct their campaigns for the 2027 general elections peacefully and orderly, in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

Bamidele, who is also Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, made the call in his Independence Day message issued on Thursday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He urged political actors to exercise their political rights responsibly and avoid incendiary comments, hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric capable of undermining the electoral process or provoking political, ethnic or religious tensions.

According to him, while every political actor has the constitutional right to participate in the democratic process and pursue political ambitions, such rights must be exercised within the confines of the law.

The Senate Leader said the forthcoming electoral campaigns should be guided by democratic values, civility and patriotism rather than rhetoric capable of threatening national peace and stability.

“Political rights at this defining moment should be guided by the rules of the electoral contest and not by the rules of the jungle. While every aspiration is legitimate in a democracy, it should be pursued with decorum, patriotism and utmost restraint,” he said.

Bamidele further cautioned that no political ambition should be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s unity and collective interests.

“No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze. As we mark our 66th anniversary of political freedom and prepare for the 2027 elections, political parties and their candidates must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law,” he stated.

He said peaceful political engagement was consistent with the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers to build a united, democratic and prosperous federation capable of playing a leading role in Africa and among Black people globally.

The Senate Leader urged political parties to ensure that their campaigns and policy platforms focus on issues that address the aspirations and welfare of Nigerians, rather than divisive rhetoric.

“Nigeria is our collective heritage. She is greater than the political ambition of any party or candidate. Our activities must be conducted to preserve our collective heritage and not destroy what we have sustainably built,” he added.

Bamidele also called on parties and candidates to ensure that their campaign activities comply with the rules governing the electoral process as they engage voters across the country.

He said the agenda presented by political parties during the 2027 electioneering period should reflect the aspirations of Nigerians and remain consistent with the broader national interest.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has published its framework and guidelines for political parties ahead of the 2027 elections, including provisions governing the conduct and timing of political campaigns.