2027: SDP to engage INEC over omission of guber candidates in Oyo, others
The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday declared that the party had commenced the process of activating corrective measures, exploring the 14-day window provided by the Electoral Act 2026…
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has long positioned itself as one of Nigeria's enduring "third force" parties, often fielding candidates in gubernatorial and presidential contests as an alternative to the dominant APC and PDP. As a registered political party, SDP relies on INEC's accurate processing of its nominations to ensure its candidates appear on the ballot, making any omission from official candidate lists a serious concern for the party's electoral participation.
This dispute centres on claims that INEC left out some of SDP's governorship candidates, including in Oyo State, from its records ahead of the 2027 elections. The party says it is relying on a 14-day correction window under the Electoral Act 2026 to press INEC to rectify the omissions. Coverage from Tribune Online and Vanguard both confirm the party's plan to engage the commission, with Vanguard specifying that four governorship candidates were affected, though neither report details INEC's response or the specific states beyond Oyo involved.