The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has 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, topic to the outcomes of pending court docket circumstances.
The fee, nevertheless, rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, searching for a evaluation of his exclusion from the ultimate listing of candidates.
A supply at INEC disclosed to journalists after the fee’s assembly on Thursday that it had acquired 69 petitions from political events over candidates omitted from the lists for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to the supply, about 36 of the petitions had been profitable, whereas the remaining circumstances had been 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 supply mentioned.
The official added that the fee was nonetheless awaiting remaining figures from its authorized division, which was making ready a proper assertion on the choices.
Confirming Pantami’s clearance, the supply mentioned the fee had no objection to his candidacy, though pending litigation may have an effect on his eligibility.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the supply mentioned when requested concerning the PDP candidate in Gombe State.
On Gwarzo, the supply mentioned his clearance was additionally topic to the result of ongoing court docket proceedings difficult his exclusion from the candidates’ listing.
“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the supply mentioned.
The official added that INEC had no objection to the 2 candidates contesting the elections, pending the decision of the authorized points.
“But we have no issues with their contesting as candidates,” the supply mentioned.
On Adebutu’s petition, the supply confirmed that the PDP candidate’s request for a evaluation of his exclusion was unsuccessful.
“He did not succeed,” the official mentioned.
The choices adopted complaints by candidates and political events whose names had been omitted from INEC’s lists printed forward of the 2027 elections.
The fee had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring political events to submit their membership registers.
INEC’s place adopted 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 membership registers obligatory.
Gwarzo had approached the court docket to problem the omission of his title and that of his working mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the listing of governorship candidates in Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he requested the court docket to declare their exclusion illegal and compel INEC to recognise them because the NDC’s governorship candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy has additionally been the topic of litigation, with the INEC supply indicating {that a} court docket continuing was anticipated on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu had challenged his exclusion from the ultimate listing of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered PDP member and had complied with the occasion’s membership registration necessities.
INEC is predicted to concern a proper assertion detailing the result of its evaluation of the petitions.
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