Ekiti South: Confusion as NDC senatorial candidate’s name missing from INEC list

Confusion has hit the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ekiti following the exclusion of its publicly affirmed candidate for Ekiti South Senatorial District, Dr Ayodele Ayokunle Olusegun, from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) final list for the 2027 elections.

Olusegun, in a petition to the National Secretariat of the party, demanded an immediate investigation and documentary explanation of how his name was omitted from the list despite his claim that he completed all statutory nomination processes.

In the petition dated September 13, 2026, and addressed to the NDC National Secretary, Olusegun said reports had repeatedly affirmed his candidature, including the party’s reported unveiling of him as its Ekiti South senatorial candidate.

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He also cited media reports published on September 3, which, according to him, reaffirmed his candidature, adding that his nomination forms had been completed and uploaded to the INEC portal.

“I categorically state that both my INEC Forms EC9 and EC13 were duly completed and submitted by the Ekiti State Chairman of the NDC to the National Secretariat for onward transmission to INEC,” he stated in the petition.

Olusegun asked the National Secretariat to provide, within 48 hours, documentary evidence showing when his nomination forms were received, who processed them and proof of their submission to INEC.

He also requested the party to produce relevant portal upload records and clarify whether any withdrawal, substitution or alteration of his candidature was made.

The petitioner raised 16 questions, including whether his name was contained in the NDC’s submission to INEC, whether another candidate was submitted in his place, and whether any court order or party resolution authorised a change.

“How did a candidate publicly affirmed by NDC, whose statutory nomination documents were duly completed and transmitted disappear from the final INEC list?” the petition queried.

Olusegun said the discrepancy raised concerns about party accountability, electoral compliance and possible legal implications.

He further called for the preservation of all records relating to his candidature, including nomination forms, payment receipts, portal records and correspondence between the NDC and INEC.

According to him, the documents could become relevant evidence in any subsequent administrative, electoral or judicial proceedings.

“I expressly reserve all rights to seek appropriate relief before the competent authorities and courts,” he stated.

Olusegun said the sequence of events was clear: the party affirmed his candidature, publicly announced him, his documents were submitted and reportedly uploaded on the INEC portal, but his name was subsequently omitted from the final list.

“The unresolved question is what happened to the candidature and the statutory documents after they left the Ekiti State party structure and reached the National Secretariat/INEC process,” he said.

Copies of the petition were sent to the NDC National Leader, National Vice-Chairmen for the South and South-West, the South-West Chairman of Chairmen, and the Ekiti State Chairman.