A civil society organisation, Astute Civil Society for Cultural and Humanity Development, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to ensure fairness and transparency in handling the omission of candidates from the 2027 electoral list.
The group made the call on Saturday during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Secretariat in Kano. The statement was presented by Comrade Ibrahim Ali.
Expressing concern over the exclusions, the group noted that the affected candidates include Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Kano State. Similar cases were recorded in other states, including the PDP governorship candidates in Gombe and Ogun States, Isa Ali Pantami and Oladipupo Adebutu, respectively.
While acknowledging INEC’s explanation that the omissions stemmed from non compliance with statutory requirements regarding party membership registers following a Supreme Court judgment, the group stressed that the law must be applied without disregarding due process.
The organisation emphasised that while compliance with the law is non-negotiable, candidates or parties who believe they have met all requirements deserve a case-specific and transparent review. It added that no candidate should be presumed eligible merely because their name was submitted, nor should any disputed omission be treated as final without a thorough examination of the facts.
The group urged INEC to address all complaints objectively and communicate its decisions clearly to affected parties within the stipulated timelines to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
It also called on political parties, candidates, and their supporters to remain calm and pursue grievances through lawful channels, warning against actions that could threaten social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
In its recommendations, the group tasked INEC with ensuring transparency, urged the judiciary to uphold the rule of law, and encouraged the media to promote balanced reporting. It reiterated that democracy thrives when institutions are trusted and the law is applied fairly to all citizens.
