Tension has heightened ahead of the 2027 general elections as opposition political parties prepare for a major court battle over candidate exclusions.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) expressed deep frustration after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published its candidate list.
Prominent figures affected include Gombe State PDP governorship candidate Prof. Isa Pantami, Ogun State PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu, and Kano State NDC candidate Aminu Gwarzo.
Despite formal petitions, party officials revealed that INEC has failed to rectify the entries or respond to inquiries.
Consequently, both parties warned that they will exhaust the statutory 14-day window before filing court suits.
PDP and NDC Demand Action Before October 24 Deadline
Party leaders confirmed that legal teams are awaiting an official response from the commission.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Jungudo, stated that party leaders and candidate lawyers remain in contact with INEC without achieving any resolution.
“We are still engaging them, but there is a likelihood that we may end up in litigation,” Jungudo explained. “As of last week Friday, there was no development, no headway, and nothing forthcoming.”
He added that Isa Pantami’s legal team has already sent a formal letter to the electoral body.
“If nothing comes out of the 14-day window provided by law, we will have no option other than to explore legal remedies,” he noted.
Similarly, the NDC Publicity Secretary confirmed that the party formally submitted complaints that INEC acknowledged but failed to answer.
“We have communicated with them as required by law, but they are yet to respond,” the NDC spokesperson stated.
He stressed that the 14-day window expires on October 24, after which the party will take lawful steps to enforce compliance.
Electoral Law Deadlines and Judicial Precedents
Electoral experts note that the 14-day administrative window gives the commission time to review technical omissions.
Party legal teams argue that removing nominated candidates exceeds INEC’s administrative powers without explicit court orders.
Meanwhile, political analysts warn that unverified candidate exclusions could trigger pre-election litigation across multiple state jurisdictions.
However, opposition parties maintain that they remain committed to using constitutional avenues to protect candidate nominations.
Finally, political watchdogs expect Federal High Court filings after October 24 if INEC fails to publish corrected lists.
