BREAKING: INEC Upholds Pantami, Gwarzo Candidacies, Rejects Adebutu’s Appeal

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 outcomes of pending court cases.

The commission, however, 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.

A source at INEC disclosed to journalists after the commission’s meeting on Thursday that it had 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 of the petitions were successful, while the remaining cases 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 added that the commission was still awaiting final figures from its legal department, which was preparing a formal statement on the decisions.

Confirming Pantami’s clearance, the source said the commission had no objection to his candidacy, although pending litigation could affect his eligibility.

“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said when asked about the PDP candidate in Gombe State.

On Gwarzo, the source said his clearance was also subject to the outcome of ongoing court proceedings challenging his exclusion from the candidates’ list.

“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 INEC had no objection to the two candidates contesting the elections, pending the resolution of the legal issues.

“But we have no issues with their contesting as candidates,” the source said.

On Adebutu’s petition, the source confirmed that the PDP candidate’s request for a review of his exclusion was unsuccessful.

“He did not succeed,” the official said.

The decisions followed complaints by candidates and political parties whose names were omitted from INEC’s lists published ahead of the 2027 elections.

The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.

INEC’s 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 approached the court to challenge the omission of 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 INEC 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 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 of the petitions.