Political Earthquake: INEC’s Final 2027 Elections Candidate List Shuts Out Top Politicians

Newslens NG reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections, confirming the exclusion of several prominent politicians who failed to secure their parties’ tickets during the primary elections.

Among those omitted from the final list are Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), former Ogun State Governor and Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), former Gombe State Governor Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South). Their absence officially ends their hopes of contesting for Senate seats in the 2027 general election.

For Delta North, the All Progressives Congress (APC) submitted the name of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as its candidate, following the party’s primary election, leaving out the incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko.

In Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje also failed to secure the APC ticket for Gombe Central, with retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed emerging as the party’s candidate. On the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo clinched the Gombe North ticket, while Senator Anthony Siyako secured the party’s nomination for Gombe South.

The list also excludes Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South, who defected from the APC to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after obtaining the party’s governorship ticket. Likewise, House of Representatives member Mansur Soro did not make the final list after deciding against seeking another term.

Earlier, the APC had reviewed petitions arising from its primary elections and reinstated six serving senators whose victories were initially overturned. Those restored include Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, and Olajide Ipinsagba. The review affected candidate lists across several states, including Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi.

With the publication of the final list, INEC has effectively settled the candidature of political parties for the 2027 National Assembly elections, bringing to a close months of internal party disputes and appeals over primary election outcomes.