INEC had earlier excluded Pantami, Gwarzo, and Adebutu from the list of gubernatorial candidates taking part in the 2027 election.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, as candidates in the 2027 elections.
The commission reportedly took the decision at its meeting on Thursday whilst considering complaints from political parties and candidates omitted from an initial published list.
However, the electoral umpire dismissed a petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship hopeful in Ogun State, regarding his exclusion from the gubernatorial candidates’ list.
On 20 October 2026, Gwarzo filed a suit asking the court to declare his exclusion and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, unlawful, and to compel INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates in Kano State.
Pantami’s case is also before the court, with a hearing expected on Friday.
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Adebutu, on the other hand, argued that he was a bona fide member of the PDP and had complied with all membership registration requirements.
However, according to a top INEC source, the commission received 69 petitions concerning the omission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates, with approximately 36 succeeding.
While Adebutu failed to secure a reprieve, Pantami of the PDP and Kano NDC guber candidate Gwarzo were cleared to contest, with their clearances pending the determination of court cases.
Confirming that Adebutu’s name would not be restored to the list, the source said, “The Ogun PDP candidate did not succeed.”
The development is linked to INEC’s enforcement of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates that political parties submit their membership registers.
The commission’s position was strengthened by a Supreme Court judgement delivered on 24 September 2026, which upheld the provision as constitutional.
