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A pro-democracy organisation, the National Association of Achievers Movement (NAAM), has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the reported exclusion of six governorship candidates from its list published ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The group said concerns about the commission’s handling of candidates’ nominations could undermine public trust in the electoral process if decisions were not clearly explained.
NAAM National President Professor Fumlack Victor expressed the concerns during a press conference in Gombe on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
He urged INEC to demonstrate fairness, consistency and transparency in determining which candidates qualify to contest governorship elections across the country.
Group questions Exclusion of six candidates for governor
Victor identified six politicians whose omission from the electoral commission’s list, he said, required clarification.
These include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, who the group identified as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Gombe State.
Others are Ladi Adebutu of the PDP in Ogun State and Aminu Gwarzo of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State.
The organization also nominated Senator Shehu Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, Mohammed Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State and Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
According to Victor, INEC should make public the legal and factual reasons behind the reported exclusions and explain the standards applied to candidates whose names appear on the list.
He argued that unexplained differences in the treatment of candidates could create doubts about the fairness of the electoral process.
NAAM seeks clear legal reasons from INEC
The association said INEC must demonstrate that its decisions comply with the Electoral Law 2026 and other applicable electoral requirements.
Victor made specific reference to sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act, which he said are relevant to political party membership and candidate nomination procedures.
He argued that the commission should apply the same legal standards to all political parties and aspiring parties, regardless of their political affiliation.
The group also asked for clarification on the membership and nomination processes used to determine the eligibility of candidates included in the list.
Victor said the goal is not to accuse election officials of misconduct, but to ensure that decisions affecting candidates are supported by evidence and established legal procedures.
The group calls for the correction of possible electoral errors
NAAM urged INEC to review any exclusion or inclusion deemed to result from an administrative error or illegal decision.
Victor said corrective action should be taken where legally justified, respecting court rulings, statutory deadlines and procedures governing candidate appointments.
He emphasized that transparency requires more than simply publishing a list of competitors.
According to him, the commission should also be prepared to explain why certain candidates were accepted or rejected.
The association warned that inconsistent application of electoral requirements could generate controversy and undermine confidence in upcoming elections.
Electoral credibility depends on fairness, the group says
Victor stressed that no candidate or political party should receive preferential treatment when electoral laws are applied.
He argued that eligible applicants deserve equal consideration, while those who do not meet the requirements should be treated to the same legal standards.
The NAAM president said INEC’s credibility will partly depend on its willingness to explain contested decisions and correct errors where the law allows.
He also urged the commission to identify any material differences between the six cases and the other accepted nominations.
Parties and candidates urged to seek legitimate remedies
The group appealed to political parties, gubernatorial aspirants, civil society organizations and members of the public to address electoral disagreements through peaceful and legal procedures.
Victor encouraged stakeholders to seek clarification from INEC and pursue appropriate legal remedies where necessary.
He said transparent decision-making would help reduce suspicion and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The association argues that the 2027 elections should be conducted according to clear rules, consistently applied and applicable to every political party.
