The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a final decision on the fate of candidates nominated by political parties for governorship and House of Assembly seats who were not initially cleared by the commission. After a series of meetings, INEC cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections.
INEC, however, 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 of candidates. The commission explained that the right of those cleared to contest is subject to the outcomes of pending court cases against them. A total of 69 petitions were received from political parties concerning omitted candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to INEC, about 36 petitions were successful, while the others failed. The commission had on October 10 released a comprehensive list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates cleared to contest on the platforms of various political parties in the 2027 elections but had omitted the names of those whose circumstances for emerging were not clear. The omissions were attributed to alleged non-compliance by some political parties with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Pantami and Gwarzo were among the prominent governorship candidates whose names were missing from the commission's list released in October. 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 for Kano State. Pantami's candidacy has also been the subject of litigation, with a court proceeding expected.
On Adebutu's exclusion, INEC stated that he did not succeed in his petition. The PDP candidate had questioned his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party's membership registration requirements. INEC will issue a formal statement on the outcome of the review.
Spokesperson to Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, said the controversy surrounding the omission and subsequent Gwarzo's reinstatement has strengthened the party's popularity, rather than weakening its prospects ahead of the 2027 election. Shuaibu argued that the episode had generated public sympathy and attracted more supporters to the party.
The decisions by INEC have given a boost to the affected candidates and their parties. While it is not clear if the Kaduna NDC governorship candidate, Senator Danjuma Laah, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate for Benue State, Sebastine Hon, have been cleared, INEC's actions are being closely watched by stakeholders.
Key points
- INEC clears Pantami and Gwarzo to contest 2027 elections
- Adebutu's petition rejected by INEC
- Pending court cases may affect candidates' eligibility
