SDP Heads to INEC Over Missing Oyo, Benue, Bauchi, Sokoto Candidates

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is seeking the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after discovering that its governorship candidates in four states were missing from the list of candidates for the 2027 elections.

The affected states are Oyo, Bauchi, Benue and Sokoto. Some of the party’s candidates for state constituency seats were also reportedly excluded from the electoral commission’s publication.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, disclosed this on Sunday, saying the SDP had begun the process of correcting the omissions.

He said the party intended to take advantage of the 14-day window provided under the Electoral Act 2026 to address errors identified in the published list.

“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 the affected candidates to reassure their supporters that the party was working to resolve the situation. He also encouraged them to continue their campaign activities while efforts to correct the omissions were underway.

Among those affected are Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, the SDP governorship candidate in Benue, and Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, the party’s candidate in Oyo State.

The SDP expressed confidence that INEC would rectify the omissions promptly, adding that it remained committed to pursuing the necessary procedures to ensure its candidates were properly reflected in the list.

SDP heads to INEC over missing Oyo, Benue, Bauchi, Sokoto candidates

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is seeking the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after discovering that its governorship candidates in four states were missing from the list of candidates for the 2027 elections.

The affected states are Oyo, Bauchi, Benue and Sokoto. Some of the party’s candidates for state constituency seats were also reportedly excluded from the electoral commission’s publication.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, disclosed this on Sunday, saying the SDP had begun the process of correcting the omissions.

He said the party intended to take advantage of the 14-day window provided under the Electoral Act 2026 to address errors identified in the published list.

“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 the affected candidates to reassure their supporters that the party was working to resolve the situation. He also encouraged them to continue their campaign activities while efforts to correct the omissions were underway.

Among those affected are Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, the SDP governorship candidate in Benue, and Mogaji Olusegun Agboola, the party’s candidate in Oyo State.

The SDP expressed confidence that INEC would rectify the omissions promptly, adding that it remained committed to pursuing the necessary procedures to ensure its candidates were properly reflected in the list.