INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo for 2027 Polls, Rejects Adebutu’s Petition
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly 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 governorship 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, seeking a review of his exclusion from the final list of candidates for the forthcoming elections.
The decisions followed INEC’s consideration of complaints submitted by political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s final list of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates.
According to reports by Nigerian media outlets citing sources within the commission, INEC received 69 petitions concerning the omission of candidates, with approximately 36 requests reportedly succeeding.
The commission was, however, still awaiting final figures from its legal department before issuing a formal statement detailing the outcome of the review.
Pantami, Gwarzo Granted Conditional Clearance
Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, had been excluded from INEC’s final list despite winning a court-ordered rerun of the party’s governorship primary.
His exclusion had generated controversy, particularly over the interpretation and application of the Electoral Act 2026 provisions governing political party membership registers and candidate nominations.
Gwarzo, the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, was also omitted from the final list, prompting representations to the electoral commission by his party.
The reported decisions to clear both candidates are subject to pending court cases, meaning that subsequent judicial rulings could affect their eligibility to contest the elections.
Adebutu’s Petition Rejected
In Ogun State, INEC reportedly rejected Adebutu’s request for reconsideration of his exclusion from the final list.
Adebutu, who represents the PDP in the state’s governorship race, had challenged the omission and sought the commission’s intervention to restore his candidacy.
The decision leaves the status of the PDP’s governorship ticket in Ogun State unresolved politically, with any further steps dependent on the legal options available to the party and candidate.
INEC’s Decisions Under Scrutiny
The dispute follows INEC’s publication of the final list of candidates for the 6 February 2027 governorship elections.
The commission had previously explained that the exclusion of certain candidates was connected to compliance with the membership-register requirements of the Electoral Act 2026 and the relevant Supreme Court judgment.
The latest review represents a significant development for affected candidates and their parties as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
However, the reported clearances should not be interpreted as overriding pending court proceedings. The commission’s formal statement is still awaited to establish the full details and legal basis of its decisions.
The Analyst Online Media will continue to monitor developments and report further updates as official information becomes available.