The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, while rejecting the appeal of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu.
The decisions followed a review of petitions submitted by political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s published lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates. However, INEC’s clearance of Pantami and Gwarzo remains subject to the outcome of pending court cases that could affect their eligibility.
An INEC source disclosed that the commission received 69 petitions over the omission of candidates, with approximately 36 of the requests succeeding. The source added that the commission’s legal department was still compiling the final figures ahead of an official statement on the outcome of the review.
Pantami, who is seeking to become governor of Gombe State on the PDP platform, had been omitted from INEC’s earlier list, triggering protests and legal challenges. Gwarzo also challenged the exclusion of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the Kano State governorship candidate list. INEC, however, maintained that both candidates could contest, subject to the final determination of the pending legal disputes.
For Adebutu, the outcome was unfavourable. The Ogun PDP governorship candidate had petitioned the commission to review his exclusion, insisting that he remained a registered member of the party and had complied with the relevant membership registration requirements. However, an INEC source confirmed that his appeal was unsuccessful, saying simply: “He did not succeed.”
The controversy surrounding the candidates followed INEC’s decision to exclude several names over alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly requirements relating to the submission of political parties’ membership registers. The latest review offers relief to Pantami and Gwarzo, but their political ambitions remain subject to the outcome of ongoing court proceedings.
