Several Nigerian political parties have confirmed submitting corrections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the omission of some candidates’ names from its published list for the forthcoming general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) said they complied with the commission’s October 24 deadline, although official confirmation of the affected candidates’ status remains outstanding.
PDP National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.), confirmed the party’s compliance in a response to *Vanguard*.
“Yes, we met the deadline since,” he said.
The party’s affected candidates reportedly include its governorship hopefuls in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Professor Isa Pantanmi, respectively.
Several PDP House of Assembly candidates were also omitted from the electoral commission’s published list.
INEC had directed affected political parties to address the omissions before the October 24 deadline, providing an opportunity for corrections ahead of the elections.
Other parties affected included the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), NDC and ADP.
Confirming his party’s compliance, NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director responded affirmatively when asked whether the necessary corrections had been completed.
ADP National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, similarly confirmed that his party had met the deadline.
The Labour Party also expressed confidence in its standing with the electoral commission.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said the party had fulfilled its obligations concerning candidate corrections and replacements.
“The Labour Party is in good standing with INEC, including on matters relating to the correction of names and replacement of candidates,” Asogwa stated.
He added that the party remained optimistic about its participation in the forthcoming polls.
However, questions persist over whether INEC has formally accepted all the submitted corrections.
Among the candidates awaiting clarification are NDC’s John Upan and ADC’s Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo in Cross River State.
Toyo said she had completed the required procedures before the deadline but was still awaiting an official update from the commission.
“They gave us the deadline of October 24 which was Saturday and I had done all that they asked for but they have not brought out any information,” she said.
Meanwhile, INEC’s Head of Voter Education in Cross River State, Osaro Aisen, explained that the matter was being handled at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja.
He described the issue as a legal matter and said further clarification could emerge on Monday.
“I cannot give you a categorical answer now till tomorrow,” Aisen stated.
While the parties maintain that they complied with the deadline, INEC has yet to publish a definitive update establishing which omitted candidates have been cleared.
The commission’s response is expected to clarify the status of the affected nominations and determine whether further administrative or legal steps are necessary.
Ezeana Emmanuel
