The Astute Civil Society for Cultural and Humanity Development has expressed concern over the exclusion of some governorship candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, calling for transparency, fairness and a review of disputed cases.

Comrade Ibrahim Ali, who represented the organisation, stated this on Saturday while addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kano, during a press conference on democratic principles, electoral fairness, the rule of law and peaceful coexistence.

Ali said the organisation was concerned about reports that several candidates had been omitted from INEC’s final list, including Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso.

He said similar concerns had emerged in other states, particularly Gombe and Ogun, where the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates, Isa Ali Pantami and Oladipupo Adebutu, popularly known as Ladi Adebutu, alongside his running mate, were reportedly affected by the omissions.

According to Ali, the developments had attracted public attention and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the affected candidates’ nominations and their exclusion from the final list.

The civil society organisation acknowledged that INEC had attributed the exclusions to compliance with statutory requirements relating to political party membership registers, following a recent Supreme Court judgment.

However, Ali said the organisation recognised the importance of complying with electoral laws and respecting judicial decisions while insisting that disputed cases should be examined fairly and transparently.

He maintained that the organisation was not demanding special treatment for any candidate or political party but was advocating a process that would allow relevant facts, submitted evidence and applicable legal provisions to be considered before conclusions were reached.

“Our position is simple: compliance with the law must be upheld, and where an omission is disputed, the facts should be examined fairly and the outcome clearly communicated,” Ali said.

He added that no candidate should automatically be presumed eligible simply because an omission was challenged, just as no disputed exclusion should be treated as beyond review without considering the relevant facts and provisions of the law.

Ali urged INEC to establish a fair, transparent and case-specific review process for affected candidates and political parties, stressing that electoral authorities had a responsibility to administer the electoral process impartially and consistently.

He said democracy depended on institutions that applied the law fairly, political parties that fulfilled their statutory obligations and candidates who met the prescribed requirements.

The organisation further called on INEC to communicate clearly with affected political parties, examine properly submitted complaints within the applicable timelines and take corrective action wherever the facts and law justified such steps.

Ali noted that transparent handling of the disputed cases would help strengthen public confidence in the electoral commission and demonstrate that electoral administration was guided by evidence, due process and impartiality.

On the implications of the controversy for peace and stability, he warned that unresolved electoral disputes could undermine public trust, deepen mistrust among political stakeholders and create avoidable tensions within communities.

He observed that Kano State, like other parts of Nigeria, had a diverse population with competing political interests and strong expectations regarding democratic participation, making transparent communication of electoral decisions particularly important.

According to him, uncertainty surrounding the exclusion of candidates could generate public anxiety, especially where affected political parties and their supporters believed their concerns had not received adequate consideration.

Ali, however, stressed that the organisation did not intend to alarm the public, assign blame or threaten any institution, but rather to encourage the timely, lawful and peaceful resolution of electoral disputes.

He urged political parties, candidates, their supporters, civil society organisations and members of the public to remain calm, exercise restraint and pursue their grievances through established legal and administrative channels.

The organisation also cautioned political actors against allowing differences over electoral matters to degenerate into hostility, emphasising that peace, national unity and democratic progress should take precedence over partisan interests.

As part of its recommendations, the group called on INEC to undertake a thorough review of disputed exclusions involving candidates and political parties that maintained they had fulfilled the applicable statutory requirements.

It also urged the commission to provide clear, case-specific explanations whenever a candidate was excluded, including references to the relevant legal provisions and the facts informing the decision.

Ali said that where a review established that an exclusion resulted from an error, INEC should take appropriate corrective measures, provided such action was permitted under the applicable legal framework.

The organisation further urged all political parties, candidates and public institutions to respect the rule of law and comply with lawful court decisions, noting that electoral disputes should be resolved through established procedures rather than inflammatory public statements.

It also called on relevant institutions to communicate transparently and act impartially to protect public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reaffirming the organisation’s position, Ali said its intervention was not an endorsement of any political party or candidate but a call for an electoral process in which the law was respected, legitimate concerns received fair consideration and public institutions remained accountable to citizens.

He also urged the media to report electoral developments accurately and responsibly, saying journalists had an important role to play in informing the public, promoting accountability and creating an atmosphere conducive to peaceful democratic participation.

Ali called on INEC to ensure that disputed exclusions were addressed promptly and transparently, while urging political stakeholders and citizens to place the interests of their communities and the country above partisan differences.

He said the organisation remained committed to promoting democratic principles, cultural and human development, peaceful coexistence and responsible civic engagement as Nigeria prepared for another electoral cycle.