INEC clears Pantami, Gwarzo but leaves final verdict to courts

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.

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 final list of candidates.

A source at INEC disclosed this to Daily Trust after the commission’s meeting on Thursday, saying it had received 69 petitions from political parties over the omission of candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

According to the source, about 36 petitions were successful, while the remaining applications were rejected.

Read Also:

FG offers workers N70,000 monthly transport allowance amid rising living costs

KANOPOLY’s Leadership Puzzle: New Registrar Appointed, Former One Returns

KANOPOLY: How a medically incapacitated Rector heads a Polytechnic with over 45 PhD holders

“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 commission was awaiting final figures from its legal department, which was preparing an official statement on the decisions.

On Pantami’s candidacy, the source confirmed that INEC had cleared the former minister, although pending litigation could still affect the final outcome.

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

Similarly, Gwarzo’s clearance remains subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation over his candidacy 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.

The official added that the commission had no objection to either candidate contesting the election, pending the resolution of the legal disputes.

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

Meanwhile, Adebutu’s attempt to challenge his exclusion from the list of governorship candidates in Ogun State was unsuccessful.

“He did not succeed,” the official said.

The decisions followed complaints from candidates and political parties after INEC omitted their names from lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Pantami and Gwarzo were among the prominent governorship candidates whose names were missing from the commission’s list released in October.

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

The commission said its position was informed by 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 subsequently 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.

Adebutu, on his part, had challenged his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, maintaining that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.