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Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has cautioned political candidates omitted from the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission against expending financial resources on legal challenges, describing such efforts as futile.
The commission released the updated list after INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan confirmed at a press conference in Abuja that officials were reviewing the certified true copy of a recent Supreme Court judgment to determine necessary electoral actions.
The apex court’s September 24, 2026 ruling upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 alongside INEC’s revised schedule for the 2027 general elections, establishing that political parties cannot field candidates whose names were omitted from party registers submitted within statutory deadlines.
Appearing on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Malam Mohammed Haruna emphasized that non-compliant political parties would not be permitted to substitute affected candidates or profit from regulatory infractions.
The publication saw several high-profile politicians excluded, including former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party for the Gombe State governorship race after APC selected Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna as its consensus choice.
Other notable omissions from the commission’s list include PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State Ladi Adebutu and Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship flagbearer in Kano State Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
Sharing his perspective on social media, Shehu Sani urged excluded aspirants to refrain from exhausting time and funds contesting a clear judicial precedent.
“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.” Sani said.
The human rights activist also called on legal professionals to advise politicians against filing unnecessary lawsuits following the ruling.
“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’.
“Four years will come and go; let them strategise for the future.” he added.
Sani currently holds the APC nomination for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections, having secured the ticket during the party’s May primary election against former Kaduna State House of Assembly Speaker Yusuf Zailani.
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