INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo for 2027 Elections, Rejects Adebutu’s Petition
Electoral commission reportedly approves about 36 of 69 petitions over omitted candidates, but makes Gombe and Kano governorship clearances subject to pending court cases.
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, subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.
However, the commission rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who sought a review of his exclusion from the list of candidates cleared to participate in the elections.
The decisions followed a review of complaints submitted by political parties and candidates whose names were missing from INEC’s published lists for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
A source within the commission disclosed the decisions to a correspondent on Thursday after an INEC meeting to consider the petitions.
According to the source, the commission received 69 petitions from political parties over the omission of candidates, with approximately 36 applications succeeding while the remaining petitions were 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, however, noted that the final figures were still being compiled by INEC’s legal department, which was preparing the formal statement detailing the outcome of the review.
INEC Clears Pantami Amid Legal Uncertainty
Pantami, who was nominated by the PDP as its governorship candidate in Gombe State, was among the prominent political figures whose names were missing from the list published by INEC in October.
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His omission had raised questions about his eligibility to contest the forthcoming election and prompted concerns among supporters of his candidacy.
Responding to questions about the former minister’s status, the INEC source confirmed that he had been cleared.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the official said.
However, the clearance comes against the backdrop of legal proceedings surrounding candidates affected by the commission’s earlier decisions.
The source indicated that the pending litigation could have implications for the final status of the affected candidacies, depending on the courts’ eventual decisions.
The development places Pantami’s candidacy among those requiring attention as the legal disputes surrounding the 2027 election preparations continue.
Gwarzo’s Clearance Subject to Court Decision
In Kano State, INEC also approved the candidacy of Gwarzo, the NDC governorship candidate, whose name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, were omitted from the commission’s published list.
The clearance, however, remains subject to the outcome of the ongoing legal dispute over their exclusion.
“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said.
The official added that the commission had no objection to the candidates contesting the election, provided the outstanding legal issues were resolved in accordance with the law.
“But we have no issues with their contesting as candidates,” the source said.
Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge INEC’s decision to omit him and his running mate from the list of governorship candidates for Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he sought judicial declarations that their exclusion was unlawful and an order compelling INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s duly nominated governorship candidates.
The case is part of the legal challenges arising from INEC’s enforcement of requirements governing the submission of political parties’ membership registers ahead of the 2027 elections.
The outcome of the litigation could determine whether the commission’s decision to recognise the candidates remains effective or requires further action.
INEC Rejects Adebutu’s Petition in Ogun
Meanwhile, the commission rejected Adebutu’s petition challenging his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State.
The PDP candidate had sought a review of the decision, maintaining that he remained a registered member of the party and had complied with its membership registration requirements.
However, the INEC source confirmed that his request was unsuccessful.
“He did not succeed,” the official said.
The rejection represents a setback for Adebutu as political parties and candidates continue to address disputes arising from the publication of the lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission’s decision also underscores the significance of compliance with electoral regulations and the procedures governing the nomination and recognition of candidates.
INEC is expected to provide further details in its formal statement on the petitions, including the final number of successful applications and the reasons behind decisions affecting individual candidates.
Until the commission releases its official statement, the reported outcome of Adebutu’s petition and the precise figures relating to the review remain subject to formal confirmation.
The disputes followed INEC’s publication of candidate lists in October, which excluded several governorship hopefuls and other candidates nominated by political parties.
The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, relating to the submission of political parties’ membership registers.
INEC maintained that its position was informed by a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act.
The provisions make the submission of membership registers a mandatory requirement for political parties.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the relationship between internal party procedures, statutory electoral requirements and INEC’s responsibility to enforce the law when determining which candidates qualify to appear on the official lists.
For political parties, the disputes highlight the importance of ensuring that nomination procedures and membership documentation satisfy the requirements established by electoral legislation.
For candidates, exclusion from the official list can threaten their participation in an election, making administrative reviews and judicial proceedings important avenues for challenging decisions they consider unlawful.
Pending Court Cases Could Shape Final Candidate Lists
The reported clearance of Pantami and Gwarzo comes as litigation continues to influence the status of some candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While INEC’s review has reportedly resolved some complaints, the commission’s position on candidates involved in ongoing court cases remains dependent on the eventual outcomes of those proceedings.
For Gwarzo, the litigation concerns the exclusion of both himself and his running mate from the Kano governorship list. Pantami’s candidacy has also been the subject of legal proceedings, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
The decisions could have implications for the affected political parties as they prepare for the elections, particularly where disputes concern compliance with statutory requirements for candidate recognition.
The commission’s anticipated formal statement is expected to clarify the outcome of the review process and provide further information on the petitions considered.
As the electoral process progresses, the affected candidates and their parties will be watching closely for developments from both INEC and the courts.
INEC’s formal statement and the final judicial decisions will be crucial in determining the definitive status of the candidates whose eligibility remains contested.
