The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, but their positions remain subject to pending court cases.

The commission, however, rejected an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who challenged his exclusion from the list of candidates.

The decisions followed a review of complaints submitted by political parties over the omission of some candidates from INEC’s lists for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

A source within the commission disclosed that INEC received 69 petitions and approved approximately 36 of them, while the remaining applications were unsuccessful.

“We received a total of 69 petitions from political parties. Some of them were successful, I think about 36, and the rest didn’t succeed,” the source said.

The official added that the commission’s legal department was still compiling the final figures and preparing a formal statement on the outcome of the review.

Regarding Pantami, who is seeking to contest the Gombe State governorship election, the source confirmed that INEC had cleared his candidacy, although legal proceedings could still affect the final outcome.

Gwarzo also received the commission’s approval to contest in Kano State, but INEC stressed that the clearance was subject to the court’s eventual decision on the dispute surrounding his candidacy.

“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 official maintained that INEC had no objection to either candidate contesting the election, pending the resolution of the legal issues.

Adebutu, however, failed to secure a similar reprieve. Asked about his petition challenging his exclusion from the Ogun State governorship race, the source simply said: “He did not succeed.”

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Why INEC omitted the candidates

Pantami and Gwarzo were among the prominent politicians whose names were missing from INEC’s candidate lists published in October, triggering legal challenges and protests from affected candidates and their parties.

The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged failures to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.

INEC said its position was based on 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 party membership registers mandatory.

In Gwarzo’s case, the NDC candidate approached the court to challenge the exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates for Kano State.

In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, Gwarzo asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the party’s candidates.

Pantami’s candidacy has also faced legal scrutiny, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.

Adebutu, meanwhile, had insisted that his exclusion from the Ogun State governorship list was unjustified, arguing that he remained a registered PDP member and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.

INEC is expected to issue an official statement detailing the outcome of its review of the petitions.