The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to consider petitions challenging the omission of several candidates from its list for the 2027 general elections at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 29.

Among those affected are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu; and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Abdulsalam Gwarzo.

Others include Senator Danjuma Laah, the Kaduna State governorship candidate of the NDC; Sebastine Hon, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) governorship candidate in Benue State; and several other candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s published list.

Sources said INEC had received numerous petitions before the expiration of the 14-day window provided for aggrieved candidates, political parties and other concerned parties to challenge the published particulars of candidates.

One of the sources said the commission had prepared a preliminary report on the complaints but would consider the final report after the deadline for receiving petitions, which expired on Saturday.

The source added that all the petitions had been forwarded to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, for consideration, alongside advice from relevant departments.

The planned meeting comes amid growing concerns over the exclusion of some candidates from the list for the forthcoming elections.

According to the sources, the commission would examine the complaints in line with the law, irrespective of whether the petitioners considered the omissions fair or otherwise.

However, the ongoing zonal tour by the INEC chairman was said to be a factor in the timing of the meeting, with Amupitan expected to visit Gombe State before returning to Abuja on Wednesday.

Some political parties have confirmed submitting complaints over the omission of their candidates.

In Gombe State, the PDP said it was awaiting INEC’s response to its complaint concerning the exclusion of Pantami, its governorship candidate.

The party’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, said the party had yet to submit a fresh petition, explaining that it would await the commission’s response before deciding on its next course of action.

Dukku expressed optimism that INEC would upload Pantami’s name to the list of governorship candidates, adding that the party would determine its subsequent steps based on the commission’s decision.

In Benue State, the SDP chairman, Idoko Itodo, said the party had taken the necessary steps to address the omission of its governorship candidate, Sebastine Hon, from INEC’s final list.

Itodo expressed optimism that the omission was an error that would be corrected, noting that Hon’s name appeared on the initial list released by the commission.

“We have written to INEC. We have done the needful,” he said.

Similarly, the PDP chairman in Nasarawa State, Joel Daniel Gimba, confirmed that the party had petitioned INEC over the omission of Esson Mairiga, the member representing Lafia North in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, from its final list of candidates.

Gimba described the omission as an error, arguing that the Certified True Copy of the relevant document obtained from INEC on September 20 contained Mairiga’s name.

The commission’s decision on the petitions is expected to determine the next steps for the affected candidates and their political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.