The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the candidacies of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, following a review of complaints arising from the commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The development comes after both politicians were initially excluded from INEC’s final list published on October 10, 2026.
However, the commission’s approval remains subject to the outcome of pending court cases involving their candidacies.
Adebutu’s Petition Rejected
In a contrasting development, INEC rejected the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who had requested a review of his exclusion from the list.
INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed that Pantami’s petition was successful, while Adebutu’s request did not succeed.
The commission maintained that its decisions followed a review of complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions.
INEC Reviews 130 Petitions
According to the commission, it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates.
Of the petitions, 41 were successful, while 28 were rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five petitions were successful, while 36 were rejected.
The commission explained that some complaints involved the omission of political parties, wrongful inclusion of candidates and alleged multiple nominations.
INEC also disclosed that candidates whose nominations failed to meet applicable legal requirements would be removed from the updated lists.
Background
Pantami, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, is the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, while Gwarzo is the NDC’s governorship candidate in Kano State.
Their initial exclusion followed legal disputes surrounding compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly requirements relating to the submission of political parties’ membership registers to INEC.
The commission said the affected candidates, political parties and states would be reflected in its updated list.
The latest development represents a significant step in preparations for the 2027 governorship elections, although pending court cases could still determine the final status of some candidates.
