PDP aspirant threatens to sue INEC over exclusion from list

A governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Topa Olusegun Peter, has threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged exclusion of his name from the final list.

Peter, through his lawyers, Neplus Ultra Attorneys, also asked the commission to verify his nomination records and publish his name as the PDP candidate if its records confirm that he was duly nominated.

The recent action of the Commission to enforce the Supreme Court judgement on Electoral Act has equally generated a lot of actions and reactions from some political parties.

Reacting in a letter dated October 14, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman in Abuja, a copy of which was sighted by Daily Trust on Monday, Peter said there is no lawful basis for his exclusion.

The lawyers argued on his behalf that INEC’s final list of candidates, published on October 10, did not contain Peter’s name, claiming he is the party’s duly nominated candidate saying Peter obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms on May 12, 2026, and participated in its governorship primary held on May 27.

The lawyers further claimed that the PDP forwarded his nomination particulars to INEC and that his name appeared as entry number 15,783 on the party’s membership register submitted to the commission.

They said the client had not been given written reasons for the omission or notified of any objection that could explain the decision.

The lawyers asked INEC to complete its verification within 48 hours of receiving the letter, correct the published list where the records establish Peter’s nomination and eligibility, and communicate the outcome of its review in writing.

They warned that failure to provide a substantive response within the stipulated period, or continued omission without a lawful and adequately explained basis, could lead to court proceedings seeking declaratory and mandatory orders, among other reliefs stressing that their demand was not an invitation for INEC to assume the role of a court but a request for the commission to review its records and perform its statutory duties in accordance with the law.