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INEC Clears Pantami For 2027 Race, Rejects Adebutu, Leaves Kano NDC Candidate in Legal Limbo
INEC Clears Pantami For 2027 Race, Rejects Adebutu, Leaves Kano NDC Candidate in Legal Limbo
INEC upholds 41 of 69 petitions challenging the final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections, rejecting 28 others.
Former Communications Minister, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, is cleared to contest the Gombe governorship election, subject to pending court proceedings.
The petition by Ogun State PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, seeking the restoration of his name on the candidates’ list is rejected.
INEC approves 25 of 61 petitions concerning State Houses of Assembly candidates, while the candidacy of Kano NDC flagbearer, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, remains subject to court proceedings.
October 30, () – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has upheld 41 of the 69 petitions challenging the final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 general election, while rejecting 28 others, with former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, cleared to contest in Gombe State.
The commission also rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the list, while the candidacy of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, remains subject to the outcome of pending court proceedings.
Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed the decisions in a statement issued on Thursday night, explaining that the petitions were submitted by 12 political parties across 26 states.
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According to the commission, the complaints concerned the omission of political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were not contained in membership registers submitted by their parties, and alleged cases of multiple nominations.
Haruna said INEC examined the complaints against its records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions.
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“Following a review of the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions, the Commission found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties, while complaints found to be without merit were declined,” he said.
Although INEC did not identify the affected candidates or states in its statement, sources within the commission had earlier confirmed that Pantami and Gwarzo were among those whose candidacies were considered during Thursday’s review.
Pantami Gets INEC Clearance
Pantami, who served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been cleared to contest the 2027 Gombe governorship election on the platform of the PDP.
His name was among those missing from the final list of governorship candidates published by INEC on October 10, 2026, triggering questions over his eligibility to participate in the election.
However, an INEC source confirmed that the former minister had been cleared.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said when asked about the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.
Another source also confirmed the development, although the official indicated that the clearance remained subject to the outcome of pending legal proceedings.
The commission’s position comes amid disputes over compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC.
Gwarzo’s Candidacy Subject to Court Ruling
The Kano State NDC governorship candidate, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, has also been cleared by the commission in its review of complaints, but his inclusion in the final list remains subject to the outcome of litigation.
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 published by INEC.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel the electoral commission to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates.
However, an INEC source said the commission was unable to publish his name because of an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court restraining it from doing so.
The source explained that Gwarzo would otherwise have qualified for inclusion following the review of the complaints.
“He would have scaled through, but unfortunately, there was an ex parte order from the Federal High Court barring INEC from publishing his name. That was the reason he was not cleared,” the source said.
Another source said the commission had no objection to Gwarzo contesting the election but noted that the court could make a decision that might affect his 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.
The legal dispute therefore remains central to the NDC candidate’s participation in the Kano governorship election.
Adebutu’s Petition Rejected
Hon Oladipupo Adebutu
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s bid to secure the restoration of his name on the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State has been unsuccessful.
The PDP candidate had petitioned INEC, challenging his exclusion and insisting that he remained a registered member of the party and had complied with its membership registration requirements.
However, a source within the commission confirmed that his petition was rejected because his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to INEC by the PDP.
“His petition was rejected because his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to INEC by the PDP,” the source said.
The commission’s decision means Adebutu’s request for a review of his exclusion did not secure his restoration to the Ogun State governorship candidates’ list.
25 Assembly Petitions Upheld
In addition to the governorship petitions, INEC disclosed that it received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states concerning candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections. Of the petitions, 25 were upheld, while 36 were rejected.
The commission said its decisions on the Assembly candidates were based on specific complaints received and determined in accordance with the law and its established criteria.
Haruna explained that INEC also approved the removal of candidates whose names were wrongfully published after verifying that they were absent from the membership registers submitted by their political parties.
“In addition, some names that were wrongfully published in the final list were removed after verifying that their names were not on the register.
“The Commission also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with the applicable legal requirements,” the statement said.
The Commission said the affected candidates, political parties and states would be reflected in an updated list to be published on its website.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process, assuring Nigerians that the petitions were considered based on relevant records and applicable legal provisions.
Background to Dispute
The controversy followed INEC’s publication of the final lists of candidates for the 2027 general elections on October 10, 2026, after which several political parties and candidates protested the omission of their names.
The commission had attributed the exclusions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirement that political parties submit their membership registers.
INEC said its position was guided by the September 24, 2026, judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act.
The provisions make the submission of political parties’ membership registers to the electoral commission mandatory.
Following complaints from affected candidates and political parties, INEC issued a statement on October 13, 2026, explaining its position and indicating that representations would be considered in accordance with the law.
Thursday’s decisions represent the outcome of the commission’s review of the petitions arising from the publication of the candidates’ lists ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC said the updated list would contain the names of affected candidates and political parties whose petitions were successful.:
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