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, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.

However, the commission rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who sought a review of his exclusion from the list of candidates.

An INEC source disclosed the decisions to Daily Trust on Thursday, October 29, following a meeting at which the commission considered complaints from political parties over candidates omitted from its published lists.

According to the source, INEC received 69 petitions concerning candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. About 36 petitions were successful, 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 source added that the commission was awaiting final figures from its legal department, which was preparing an official statement detailing the decisions.

Pantami’s clearance allows him to contest the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State, although legal proceedings concerning his candidacy remain pending.

Gwarzo was also cleared as the NDC’s governorship candidate in Kano State. However, INEC said his approval remained subject to the final outcome of the court case challenging his candidacy.

“We have no issues with their contesting as candidates,” the source said, referring to Pantami and Gwarzo, while noting that the courts could still determine their eligibility.

Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge the exclusion of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from INEC’s list of governorship candidates for Kano State.

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

Pantami’s candidacy is also the subject of litigation, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.

Meanwhile, Adebutu failed to secure a review of his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State.

The PDP candidate had challenged the decision, insisting that he remained a registered member of the party and had complied with its membership registration requirements.

However, the INEC source confirmed that his petition was unsuccessful.

The commission’s decisions followed complaints by candidates and political parties after INEC omitted several names from its published lists ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers.

The commission said its position was based on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act. The provisions make the submission of party membership registers mandatory.

INEC is expected to issue a formal statement providing further details on the outcome of the review and the final number of successful petitions.