RismadarVoice Reporters
October 15, 2026
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Topa Peter, has demanded an explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over his exclusion from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship election.
Through his lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, Peter gave the electoral commission 48 hours to review his nomination records and explain why his name was omitted.
The demand was contained in a letter dated October 14, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman, following the commission’s publication of the final candidate list on October 10.
The controversy arose after the PDP was excluded from the published lists for the governorship elections in Ogun and Gombe states.
INEC attributed the omissions to non-compliance with statutory requirements governing political party membership registers and candidate nominations.
The commission cited the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026, judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, which upheld provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, relating to membership registration and eligibility to participate in party primaries.
INEC also indicated that political parties seeking corrections to the published lists had until October 24 to notify the commission under Section 32(2) of the Act.
However, Peter’s lawyer maintained that his client had satisfied the necessary nomination requirements and should not have been excluded without an explanation.
Asemota claimed that Peter purchased the PDP expression of interest and nomination forms on May 12, 2026, and participated in the party’s governorship primary on May 27.
He further asserted that Peter’s name appeared as entry number 15783 in the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
According to the lawyer, the commission had neither provided written reasons for the omission nor informed his client of any objection affecting his nomination.
He requested that INEC examine the membership register, primary election records and nomination documents to determine whether Peter had complied with the applicable legal requirements.
The lawyer also asked the commission to establish whether any subsisting court order or other lawful restriction prevented Peter’s inclusion.
While acknowledging the Supreme Court’s decision on party membership requirements, Asemota argued that the judgment should be applied to the specific circumstances of his client’s nomination rather than treated as an automatic basis for exclusion.
He maintained that the commission had a responsibility to review the relevant documents and communicate its findings.
Asemota consequently demanded that INEC complete its verification within 48 hours of receiving the letter and provide a written explanation of the outcome.
He further requested the publication of an amended or supplementary candidate list containing Peter’s name if the review established that he was validly nominated and no legal impediment existed.
The lawyer warned that his client could institute legal proceedings if the commission failed to respond adequately or if the exclusion remained unresolved without lawful justification.
He stressed that the request was not intended to interfere with the judiciary’s responsibilities but to ensure that INEC properly discharged its statutory duties.
The development adds to the controversy surrounding the PDP’s participation in the 2027 governorship elections in Ogun State, where questions over membership records, nomination procedures and compliance with electoral legislation have emerged.
Peter’s claim to the party’s nomination remains disputed, and the legal basis for his exclusion has yet to be determined through the requested review or judicial proceedings.k
