INEC publishes final candidate lists: 18 presidential contenders, but Pantami and Adebutu are missing from governorship lists
INEC published final candidate lists on October 10. BusinessDay and Leadership counted 18 presidential candidates, and BusinessDay counted 4,408 National Assembly candidates. Leadership reported that Isa Ali Pantami (Gombe) and Ladi Adebutu (Ogun), both PDP, are missing from the governorship lists. The PDP is engaging INEC (Punch, Vanguard). Candidates were also left out in Bauchi (Tribune), Cross River (Vanguard) and Jigawa (Punch). No reason for the omissions was seen.
The final list decides who appears on the ballot. Omitted candidates and parties may challenge the omission, including in court.
Check your state's list on INEC's website and note the deadline for complaints.
Excluded parties say they met the rules, including a court-ordered repeat primary in Gombe.
Rivals say parties must follow INEC rules and that blame belongs with the parties.
The reasons INEC gives will decide whether this ends in quiet corrections or in court. Watch for INEC's statements this week.
DailyDrop Nigeria edition No. 8 · Morning · MON., OCT. 12, 2026