BREAKING: INEC clears Pantami, Gwarzo for 2027 elections, rejects Adebutu’s petition

* Commission says clearances remain subject to pending court cases, receives 69 petitions over omitted candidates

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.

However, the commission’s decisions on the two candidates remain subject to the outcomes of pending court cases, according to a source at INEC who spoke to Daily Trust after the commission’s meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

The source said the commission had no objection to their candidacies but noted that the courts could make decisions affecting their eligibility.

“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said regarding Gwarzo.

INEC 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.

“He did not succeed,” the source said when asked about Adebutu’s petition.

Adebutu had challenged his exclusion, maintaining that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.

The INEC source said the commission 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 petitions were successful, while the remaining petitions were unsuccessful.

The commission was still awaiting final figures from its legal department before issuing an official statement on the decisions.

The petitions followed complaints from candidates and political parties after INEC published its lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Electoral Act provisions behind omissions

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

The commission said its 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 approached the court to challenge the omission of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from INEC’s 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. The INEC source said a court proceeding involving the matter was expected on Friday, October 30.

INEC is expected to issue a formal statement on the outcome of its review.

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