Has Kano’s Aminu Gwarzo, Gombe’s Pantami Case Been Resolved?

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) mentioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acknowledged receipt of its complaints over the omission of its candidate’s identify, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, within the record of candidates for Kano State governorship election, however has but to challenge a remaining response.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed an affidavit looking for the reinstatement of Isa Pantami’s identify on the Gombe governorship candidate record.

Besides, Gwarzo and Pantami, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate in Oyo, Adebiyi Adedapo, and Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidates in Oyo and Benue, have additionally complained concerning the omission of their names.

The controversy surrounding the exclusion of NDC’s Gwarzo, and PDP’s Pantami, and others stays unresolved after the deadline set by the INEC for submission of complaints expired on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Media reviews as of Sunday, October 25, indicated that the fee had but to announce whether or not it will amend the record of candidates it printed. Consequently, the standing of Gwarzo’s and Pantami’s candidacies remained unsure forward of the governorship elections scheduled for February 6, 2027.

NDC Files Complaint however Awaits Final Response

The NDC mentioned it had written to INEC looking for a assessment of the exclusion of Gwarzo and his operating mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the record of Kano governorship candidates.

The get together’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, instructed newsmen that the fee had acquired and acknowledged the get together’s grievance letters however had not issued a remaining response by the point the deadline expired.

The NDC Chairman in Kano State, Hussaini Mairiga, additionally mentioned the get together submitted its grievance by means of its nationwide management in step with the process outlined by the fee.

Mairiga maintained that Gwarzo was a duly registered member of the get together, stating that he registered on May 5, 2026. He mentioned the get together hoped {that a} assessment of its membership registration data would set up the candidate’s eligibility.

However, the accessible reviews didn’t affirm that INEC had upheld the NDC’s grievance or restored the names of its candidates to the printed record.

PDP Takes Legal Action over Pantami’s Exclusion

In Gombe State, the PDP challenged Pantami’s exclusion from the governorship candidate record, insisting that it had fulfilled the necessities for nominating him.

Pantami emerged because the get together’s candidate after a recent major election held on September 29, 2026, following a courtroom order. His identify appeared on INEC’s provisional record printed on August 29 however was absent from the ultimate record launched on October 10.

LEADERSHIP reviews indicated that the PDP filed an affidavit on the Federal High Court registry in Abuja on October 15, difficult the exclusion of Pantami and its governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu. The get together requested the fee to revive their names to the record.

Despite the authorized step, reviews printed after the deadline didn’t set up that INEC had granted the PDP’s request or reinstated Pantami.

INEC’s Official Position

In a press release issued on October 13, 2026, INEC mentioned the exclusion of sure political events and their candidates from the ultimate record adopted the Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, within the case of INEC v. Zenith Labour Party.

The fee mentioned the Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5) to 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which require political events to submit their membership registers inside the stipulated interval to allow them to conduct legitimate get together primaries.

INEC mentioned its timetable offered for the submission of membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026. It added that events that failed to fulfill the requirement weren’t eligible to appoint candidates.

The fee additionally cited Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which it mentioned permits political events that consider their candidates had been wrongly excluded to inform it inside 14 days of the publication of the candidate record. INEC set October 24 because the deadline for submitting such complaints.

However, the fee’s assertion outlined its common place on membership registration necessities and the exclusion of candidates. It didn’t specify its selections on the NDC’s grievance regarding Gwarzo or the PDP’s grievance regarding Pantami.

Were All the Required Documents Submitted?

Available reviews confirmed that the NDC despatched grievance letters and that INEC acknowledged receiving them. However, there was no unbiased affirmation that the get together had submitted each doc required by legislation or that the fee had accepted its grievance.

Regarding the PDP, information reviews indicated that the get together filed an affidavit looking for the reinstatement of Pantami and Adebutu. It remained unclear whether or not the motion had resulted within the modifications the get together was looking for.

What Happens Next?

With the October 24 deadline now expired, the matter stays unsure. The NDC has mentioned it will pursue authorized choices if the fee fails to resolve its grievance, whereas the PDP has already taken authorized motion over the exclusion of a few of its candidates.

As of the most recent reviews accessible, there was no INEC announcement confirming that Gwarzo or Pantami had been restored to the ultimate candidate record.

The matter due to this fact can’t be thought-about resolved till the fee broadcasts a selected resolution or publishes a revised record displaying the modifications.