By Ado Oyeyemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 general elections, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.
However, the commission rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who sought a review of his exclusion from the final list of candidates.
A source within INEC disclosed the decisions to Daily Trust on Thursday following a meeting of the commission to review complaints from political parties over the omission of their candidates from the lists released ahead of the elections.
According to the source, the commission received 69 petitions relating to candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, with approximately 36 approved and the remaining applications unsuccessful.
“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 source said.
The official added that INEC’s legal department was still compiling the final figures and preparing a formal statement on the outcome of the review.
On Pantami’s candidacy in Gombe State, the source confirmed that the commission had cleared the former minister, although the pending legal proceedings could still affect the final determination of his eligibility.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the official said.
Similarly, Gwarzo’s clearance remains subject to the outcome of litigation challenging his exclusion from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
The source explained that the commission had no objection to Gwarzo contesting the election but would be bound by the court’s eventual 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.
Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge INEC’s decision to omit his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel the commission to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy is also the subject of legal proceedings, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s attempt to reverse his exclusion from the Ogun State governorship candidates’ list was unsuccessful.
“He did not succeed,” the source said in response to a question about the PDP candidate’s petition.
Adebutu had challenged his omission from the final list, insisting that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.
The controversy surrounding the candidates’ exclusion followed INEC’s publication of its lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged failures by the affected political parties to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement to submit their membership registers.
INEC said its position was informed by 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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The commission is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the outcome of its review of the petitions.
