A pro-democracy organisation, the National Association of Achievers Movement (NAAM), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the reported exclusion of six governorship candidates from its published list ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The group said concerns over the commission’s handling of candidate nominations could weaken public confidence in the electoral process if the decisions were not clearly explained.
NAAM National President, Professor Fumlack Victor, raised the concerns during a press conference in Gombe on Wednesday, October 21, 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 Governorship Candidates
Victor identified six politicians whose reported omission from the electoral commission’s list, he said, required clarification.
They include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, whom the group identified as a 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 organisation also named 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 appeared on the list.
He argued that unexplained differences in the treatment of candidates could create doubts about the fairness of the electoral process.
NAAM Demands Clear Legal Grounds From INEC
The association said INEC must demonstrate that its decisions comply with the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable electoral requirements.
Victor referred specifically to Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act, which he said were relevant to political party membership and candidate nomination procedures.
He maintained that the commission should apply the same legal standards to all political parties and aspirants, regardless of their political affiliations.
The group also called for clarification of the membership and nomination processes used to determine the eligibility of candidates included in the list.
Victor said the objective was not to accuse electoral officials of misconduct but to ensure that decisions affecting candidates were supported by evidence and established legal procedures.
Group Calls for Correction of Possible Electoral Errors
NAAM urged INEC to review any exclusion or inclusion found to have resulted from an administrative mistake or an unlawful decision.
Victor said corrective action should be taken where legally justified, while respecting court rulings, statutory deadlines and the procedures governing candidate nominations.
He stressed that transparency required more than publishing a list of contestants.
According to him, the commission should also be prepared to explain why particular candidates were accepted or rejected.
The association warned that inconsistent application of electoral requirements could generate disputes and undermine confidence in the forthcoming elections.
Electoral Credibility Depends on Fairness, Group Says
Victor emphasised that no political candidate or party should receive preferential treatment when electoral laws are applied.
He argued that eligible aspirants deserved equal consideration, while those who failed to meet the requirements should be treated according to the same legal standards.
The NAAM president said INEC’s credibility would depend partly on its willingness to explain disputed decisions and correct mistakes where the law permitted.
He also urged the commission to identify any material differences between the six cases and other nominations that had been accepted.
Parties, Candidates Urged to Seek Lawful Remedies
The group appealed to political parties, governorship aspirants, civil society organisations and members of the public to address electoral disagreements through peaceful and lawful procedures.
Victor encouraged affected parties 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 maintained that the 2027 elections should be conducted under rules that are clear, consistently enforced and applicable to every political party.
