SDP to engage INEC over omission of four guber candidates

Party explores 14-day window under Electoral Act 2026 to correct errors

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said it will engage the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of its governorship candidates in Oyo, Bauchi, Benue and Sokoto states from the list of candidates for the 2027 elections.

The party said it had commenced efforts to activate corrective measures, expressing confidence that the omissions would be addressed promptly by the electoral commission.

The SDP said it was exploring the 14-day window provided under the Electoral Act 2026 to correct errors identified in INEC’s publication.

Reacting to the development on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said the omission of its governorship candidates in the four states, as well as some candidates contesting state constituency seats, had raised concerns among supporters in the affected areas.

“Regrettably, SDP governorship candidates for four states were omitted — Benue, Oyo, Bauchi and Sokoto — and also some of our candidates in a number of state constituencies,” Aiyenigba said.

“This unexpected error, undeniably, has elicited worries amongst our supporters in the states affected.

“The affected candidates have been assured that the error is being addressed with the deserved seriousness, and there are high assurances that the corrections will be effected promptly by the commission.

“The party has commenced the process of activating the corrective measures, exploring the 14-day window provision of the Electoral Act 2026 to correct errors noted in the publication.”

Aiyenigba urged affected candidates to reassure their supporters that efforts were underway to resolve the issue, while encouraging them to sustain their campaign activities.

Among those affected are the SDP governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, and the party’s candidate in Oyo State, Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, whose names were reportedly missing from the list released by INEC.

The party said it remained committed to ensuring that the omissions were corrected through the appropriate process.

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