INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo, Rejects Adebutu’s Appeal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and 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 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.

An INEC source disclosed this to Daily Trust after the commission’s meeting on Thursday, adding that it received 69 petitions from political parties over candidates omitted from the lists for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The source said the commission approved about 36 of the petitions, while it rejected the rest.

“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 INEC’s legal department was still compiling the final figures and preparing a formal statement on the decisions.

On Pantami and Gwarzo, the source said the commission had no objection to their candidacies but stressed that pending court cases could affect their eligibility.

“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said when asked about the former minister, who is contesting in Gombe State.

Gwarzo’s clearance also remains subject to the court’s final decision on the dispute over his candidacy.

“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 maintained that INEC had no objection to either candidate contesting, provided the legal issues did not result in a contrary court ruling.

However, Adebutu failed to secure a favourable review of his exclusion from the Ogun State governorship candidates’ list.

“He did not succeed,” the source said.

The review 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 candidates whose names did not appear on the commission’s list released in October.

INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged breaches of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers.

The commission based its position on a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act. The provisions make the submission of party membership registers mandatory.

Gwarzo subsequently approached the court to challenge the exclusion of himself and 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 faced legal challenges, 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. He maintained 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.

Source: Daily Trust