INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo for 2027 Elections, Rejects Adebutu’s Appeal
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the candidacies of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, for the 2027 elections Daily Trust reported.
However, the commission said the clearance of both candidates remains subject to the final determination of pending court cases relating to their candidacies.
INEC also rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the commission’s final list of candidates.
A source within the electoral commission disclosed this to Daily Trust following INEC’s meeting on Thursday, explaining that the commission considered 69 petitions submitted by political parties over the omission of candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to the source, approximately 36 of the petitions were successful, while the remaining applications were unsuccessful.
The official, however, noted that the commission was awaiting the final figures from its legal department, which was preparing an official statement detailing the decisions.
Regarding Pantami and Gwarzo, the source confirmed that INEC had no objection to their participation in the elections but stressed that the pending legal proceedings could ultimately determine their eligibility.
The source specifically disclosed that Pantami had been cleared, while Gwarzo’s approval would depend on the outcome of the court case challenging his exclusion.
Gwarzo had approached the court to contest the exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of NDC governorship candidates in Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he sought a declaration that their exclusion was unlawful and an order compelling INEC to recognise them as the party’s duly nominated candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy has similarly been challenged in court, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding in the matter was expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s appeal against his exclusion was unsuccessful. The Ogun PDP governorship candidate had maintained that he remained a registered member of the party and had fulfilled the requirements for membership registration.
The controversy surrounding the candidates followed INEC’s publication of the final lists of governorship candidates in October, which excluded several prominent politicians over alleged failure by their political parties to comply with the membership register submission requirements under the Electoral Act, 2026.
INEC had based its position on the 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.
The commission is expected to release a formal statement providing further details of its decisions on the petitions.
