Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has advised politicians whose names were omitted from the final list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections not to waste money, time and energy challenging the decision in court.
Sani described the legal battle as a lost cause, urging the affected politicians to accept the implications of the Supreme Court judgement and begin preparing for future elections.
The former lawmaker made the remarks in a post on his social media platforms following INEC’s release of the list, which excluded several prominent political figures seeking elective offices in different states.
He also appealed to lawyers representing the affected candidates, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), to advise their clients against filing fresh lawsuits that could further drain their financial resources without changing the outcome.
Why INEC Excluded Some Candidates From the 2027 Election List
INEC released the final list after its chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, promised to review complaints from political parties and aggrieved aspirants over the implications of a Supreme Court judgement on candidate eligibility.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja earlier in the week, Amupitan disclosed that the commission had received the certified true copy of the judgement and was reviewing the legal implications to determine its next course of action.
The development followed the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgement, which affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The apex court also upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
Following the judgement, INEC maintained that political parties would not be allowed to participate in the elections if they presented candidates whose names were not included in the registers submitted to the commission within the stipulated period.
INEC Rules Out Candidate Substitution
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Malam Mohammed Haruna, also clarified the commission’s position on candidates affected by the decision.
Speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Wednesday evening, Haruna said political parties would not be permitted to substitute candidates whose names were excluded under the applicable rules.
He added that the commission would not allow political parties or candidates to benefit from violations of the electoral requirements.
The clarification heightened uncertainty for politicians whose names were missing from the final list, particularly those who had changed parties or encountered disputes surrounding their nominations.
Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo Among Candidates Excluded
Among the prominent politicians whose names were missing from INEC’s latest list was former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who is seeking the governorship of Gombe State.
Pantami initially pursued the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the ruling party in Gombe State settled for Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus candidate.
Other prominent candidates reportedly excluded from the list include Ladi Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State.
Their exclusion has raised questions about the political implications of the Supreme Court judgement and the extent to which affected parties can challenge INEC’s application of the electoral requirements.
Shehu Sani Says Affected Politicians Should Move On
Reacting to the development, Sani insisted that the Supreme Court’s position was clear and that affected candidates should reconsider the wisdom of pursuing additional legal battles.
“The Supreme Court ruling that enabled INEC to exclude some names of candidates is very clear. Affected candidates should not waste their money, time and energy fighting a lost battle,” he said.
The former senator further appealed to lawyers handling the politicians’ cases to exercise caution and avoid encouraging them to spend more money on fresh court proceedings.
“I also wish to appeal to those Barristers and SANs to ‘pity’ those candidates and allow them to rest, and not mislead them into spending more money ‘filing fresh suits’,” Sani added.
He urged the affected politicians to focus on rebuilding their political strategies rather than becoming consumed by prolonged litigation.
“Four years will come and go; let them strategise for the future,” he said.
Shehu Sani’s Political Ambition Ahead of 2027
Sani is also preparing for the 2027 general elections as the APC candidate for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
He secured the party’s ticket during its primary election held in May, defeating his closest challenger, former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani.
His comments on the INEC list come amid preparations for the 2027 elections, with political parties and aspirants facing increasing pressure to comply with electoral laws and nomination deadlines.
As the controversy continues, the fate of excluded candidates will depend on the applicable legal provisions, the Supreme Court’s judgement and any further decisions by the relevant authorities.