BREAKING: INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo, Rejects Adebutu’s Petition
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 elections, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.
However, the commission rejected a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the list of candidates.
A source within INEC disclosed the decisions to *Daily Trust* following the commission’s meeting on Thursday, stating that it received 69 petitions from 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 commission was, however, awaiting final figures from its legal department ahead of an official statement on the outcome of the review.
Confirming Pantami’s clearance, the source said the commission had no objection to his candidacy, although the ongoing legal proceedings could affect his eligibility.
On Gwarzo, the official explained that his clearance remained subject to the final determination of the court in the case challenging his exclusion, alongside that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
Gwarzo had approached the court through an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, seeking a declaration that INEC’s decision to exclude them was unlawful and an order compelling the commission to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy has also been the subject of litigation, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s petition challenging his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State was unsuccessful.
The PDP candidate had questioned the decision, maintaining that he remained a registered member of the party and had complied with the relevant membership registration requirements.
INEC’s decisions followed complaints from candidates and political parties after the commission omitted several names from its list of candidates published ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers.
Its position followed the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, making the submission of party membership registers mandatory.
INEC is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the outcome of the petitions and its decisions on the affected candidates.
