The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 general elections, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.

The commission, however, rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the final candidates’ list.

The decisions followed a marathon meeting of the commission on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during which it considered petitions from political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from the lists published ahead of the 2027 elections.

A source at INEC disclosed that the Commission received 69 petitions from political parties over candidates omitted from the governorship and State Houses of Assembly lists.

About 36 of the petitions were successful, while the rest failed. The commission’s legal department is compiling the final figures ahead of a formal statement on the decisions.

On Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, the source said: “Yes, Pantami has been cleared.” The commission said it had no objection to his candidacy, though pending litigation could affect his eligibility.

Gwarzo’s clearance is also subject to the outcome of ongoing court proceedings challenging his exclusion from the candidates’ list. “Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said.

The commission added that it had no issues with either candidate contesting the elections pending the resolution of the legal issues.

On Adebutu’s petition, the source confirmed that the PDP candidate’s request for a review of his exclusion was unsuccessful. “He did not succeed,” the official said. Adebutu had insisted that he remained a registered PDP member and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.

The omissions that prompted the petitions were linked to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers. INEC’s position followed 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 party membership registers mandatory.

Pantami emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State following a court-ordered rerun of the party’s primary election on September 29, 2026. His name was omitted from INEC’s final list published on October 10, prompting legal and political efforts to secure his inclusion.

Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge the omission of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the Kano governorship candidates’ list in an originating summons dated October 20, 2026.

A member of Pantami’s legal team, Mr. Attahir Ibrahim, expressed satisfaction with the development, saying he had never been unduly concerned about the legal challenges surrounding the former minister’s candidacy.

“Though I have never been concerned, it is something to be happy about,” Ibrahim said. “Anyone who understands the history of power and political struggles around the world would not be surprised or frightened by anything that happens. This is because I know that power belongs to God”.

INEC is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the outcome of its review of the petitions. The commission’s publicly available list had yet to reflect Pantami’s reinstatement as of Thursday, leaving the reported outcome subject to formal clarification.