The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed weeks of uncertainty after the commission initially omitted their names from the list of governorship and State Assembly candidates released on October 10, 2026.
However, INEC rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the list.
According to a source at the commission, INEC received 69 petitions from political parties concerning candidates whose names were omitted, with about 36 reportedly successful.
The source disclosed that the decisions were reached after a meeting that lasted more than six hours on Thursday, adding that the clearance granted to Pantami and Gwarzo remained subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.
INEC had earlier given affected political parties and candidates 14 days, ending October 24, to submit petitions for reconsideration.
The commission’s initial decision was linked to questions surrounding compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the submission of party membership registers.
The development has generated reactions from political stakeholders in Gombe, Kano and Ogun states.
Reacting to Gwarzo’s reinstatement, his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, said the controversy surrounding his initial exclusion had increased the party’s popularity and attracted additional supporters.
He maintained that the NDC followed all laid-down procedures in the nomination and submission of its candidate’s details.
Similarly, Barrister Ibrahim Attahir, a member of Pantami’s legal team and spokesperson for the Pantamiya Movement, welcomed the development, expressing confidence in the rule of law and the judiciary over the pending legal matters.
However, PDP governorship aspirant in Gombe State, Usman Aliyu Garry, vowed to continue challenging Pantami’s candidacy, insisting that the legal dispute surrounding the party’s governorship ticket remained unresolved.
Garry questioned the basis of INEC’s decision and called on the commission to clarify the grounds for recognising Pantami despite the ongoing litigation.
Meanwhile, PDP Publicity Secretary in Gombe State, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, said he was not yet aware of the commission’s latest decision but promised to consult the party’s leadership for clarification.
In Ogun State, PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, criticised the exclusion of Adebutu, alleging that the circumstances surrounding the development raised concerns about political competition and the electoral process.
Adebutu’s spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, had yet to respond to requests for comments on the commission’s decision as of the time of filing this report.
Political analyst, Dr Kabiru Sufi, described Gwarzo’s clearance as a development that could strengthen public confidence in the democratic process, noting that the earlier uncertainty had initially slowed the NDC’s preparations for the election.
He, however, expressed optimism that the party still had time to intensify its preparations ahead of the polls.
Gwarzo’s reinstatement is expected to bring renewed political activity to Kano’s governorship contest, while Pantami’s clearance reopens the contest between the PDP and other political parties in Gombe State.
INEC’s decision, however, remains subject to the final determination of pending court cases involving the affected candidates.
