The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially published the final list of candidates for Nigeria's 2027 general elections, a move that has effectively ended the hopes of several prominent political figures seeking to contest under major parties. The commission's release, issued on Saturday, August 1, confirmed that a number of influential names were left out, triggering immediate reactions across the political spectrum.
Among the most striking omissions is former President Goodluck Jonathan, who had been submitted to INEC as the presidential candidate of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The exclusion was confirmed in a report by The Punch on Sunday, August 2, which also detailed the fate of other notable politicians, including ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel and former Senator Danjuma Goje.
Jonathan's Name Missing from Presidential List
Jonathan, a former deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa State before rising to the presidency, did not appear on the final INEC list for the presidential election. Despite being presented by a faction of the PDP, the commission did not include his name among the candidates approved for the 2027 race. The development adds another layer of uncertainty to the already contentious pre-election period.
Political analysts note that Jonathan's exclusion may not be entirely surprising given the internal divisions within the PDP regarding its presidential ticket. However, his absence from the list confirms that the commission did not acknowledge the factional submission, raising further questions about the party's internal processes.
Delta North: Okowa Takes the Slot as Nwoko Misses Out
In Delta State, the omission of Ned Nwoko from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial list for Delta North has set the stage for a new contest. At the INEC office in Asaba, the final list showed former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the APC candidate for the district, confirming Nwoko's earlier defeat during the party's primary election.
The result is a major setback for Nwoko, who had hoped to represent Delta North in the Senate. Okowa's emergence, however, gives the APC a high-profile contender in the state, with implications for the overall political balance in the region.
Gombe State: Goje Loses to Ex-Police Commissioner
In Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje also suffered a reversal, losing the APC ticket to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed. The final list confirmed that Ahmed will carry the APC flag in the Gombe senatorial race, pushing Goje out of the contest.
On the opposition side, former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo secured the PDP ticket for Gombe North Senatorial District, while Senator Anthony Siyako picked up the PDP candidacy for Gombe South. These developments reshape the senatorial contests in Gombe, with both major parties fielding familiar but distinct candidates.
Bauchi Federal Lawmakers Also Absent
Two serving federal lawmakers from Bauchi State were also missing from INEC's final list. Senator Shehu Buba, who represented Bauchi South under the APC, has since defected to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and secured the PRP governorship ticket. As a result, he will not be returning to the Senate in 2027.
Similarly, House of Representatives member Mansur Soro, who represents the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, had earlier announced that he would not seek any elective office in the 2027 cycle. His name, therefore, was not forwarded to INEC, consistent with his stated intentions.
APC Appeals: Six Senators Reinstated, Nine States Affected
The exclusions from the APC list come approximately two months after Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured aggrieved lawmakers that the party leadership was working to resolve complaints surrounding the primaries. The APC National Working Committee (NWC) subsequently overturned primary results in nine states – Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi – and reinstated six serving senators: Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, and Olajide Ipinsagba.
Some notable changes emerged from the appeal process. For instance, Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu as the APC candidate for Abia South. In Benue, former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who initially won the primary, was later stripped of the ticket, which was awarded to incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende following the appeal committee's recommendation. Despite these adjustments, many other politicians who had hoped to benefit from the review were still left off the final list forwarded to INEC.
Kenneth Okonkwo's Advice to PDP Over Jonathan
The controversy surrounding Jonathan's omission also drew a cautionary note from Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP). Okonkwo advised the PDP to allow the former president to enjoy his retirement from public office rather than being dragged into the 2027 election campaign. He argued that Jonathan's credibility should be preserved and that he should continue to be regarded as an international statesman.
Okonkwo's statement reflects a growing sentiment among some political observers who believe that Jonathan's political future should not be entangled in factional battles. As the election season intensifies, the debate over his exclusion from the list is likely to persist.
