The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 general elections.
However, the commission rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the final list of candidates.
An INEC official said they received 69 petitions relating to governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, with about 36 successful and the remaining applications rejected.
“We received a total of 69 petitions from political parties. Some of them were successful, I think about 36, and the rest didn’t succeed,” the official said.
The official added that the commission’s legal department was compiling the final figures and preparing an official statement on the outcome of the review.
Regarding Pantami’s candidacy in Gombe State, the official confirmed that the commission had cleared the former minister but noted that pending court proceedings could affect the final determination.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the official said.
Similarly, Gwarzo’s clearance remains subject to the outcome of litigation challenging his exclusion from the Kano State governorship candidates’ list.
The source said the commission had no objection to his candidacy but would be bound by the court’s final decision.
“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said.
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Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge INEC’s exclusion of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
In an originating summons dated 20th October, 2026, he asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy is also subject to legal proceedings, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s request for a review of his exclusion from the Ogun State governorship candidates’ list was unsuccessful.
“He did not succeed,” the official said.
Adebutu had challenged his omission from the final list, insisting that he remained a registered PDP member and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.
The controversy followed INEC’s publication of its final lists of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance by some political parties with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement to submit their membership registers.
INEC said its position followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, which makes the submission of party membership registers mandatory.
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