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.

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.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global gathering, according to a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.

During the visit, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate, where Nigeria called for reforms to the UN Security Council, including permanent African representation.

He also advocated stronger global financing, increased climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.

Shettima participated in the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, where President Tinubu urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals by investing in processing, manufacturing and value addition.

At an education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, the Vice President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to education and supported the Global Partnership for Education’s $5 billion financing campaign.

He also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, highlighting their potential contributions through investment, expertise and professional networks.

Other engagements included meetings with the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.

Shettima has since returned to Nigeria following the engagements.