The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.
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 source told Daily Trust on Thursday that the commission received 69 petitions from political parties over candidates omitted from the lists for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to the source, about 36 petitions were successful, while the remaining requests were rejected.
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“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 as the commission prepared a formal statement on the decisions.
On Pantami, the source confirmed that the commission had cleared his candidacy but noted that pending litigation could affect the final outcome.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said.
Gwarzo’s clearance is similarly subject to the outcome of court proceedings challenging his exclusion from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said, adding that INEC had no objection to the candidates contesting the election pending the resolution of the legal disputes.
The commission, however, rejected Adebutu’s petition.
“He did not succeed,” the source said when asked about the Ogun PDP governorship candidate.
The decisions followed complaints by candidates and political parties whose names were missing from INEC’s lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Pantami and Gwarzo were among prominent governorship candidates omitted from the list released by the commission in October.
INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission 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 membership registers mandatory.
Gwarzo had gone to court to challenge the exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates for Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 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 litigation, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu had challenged his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered PDP member and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.
INEC is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the outcome of its review.
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