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 general elections, subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.

However, the commission 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 of candidates for the forthcoming election.

A source within INEC, according to a report by Daily Trust, revealed this following the commission’s meeting on Thursday, where petitions arising from the omission of candidates from the published lists were considered.

According to the report, the commission received 69 petitions from political parties concerning omitted candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, with approximately 36 reportedly successful.

“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 official confirmed that Pantami had been cleared, while Gwarzo’s approval remained subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation challenging his exclusion.

The source also confirmed that Adebutu’s petition was unsuccessful, stating that the Ogun PDP candidate “did not succeed” in his bid to have his name restored to the list.

INEC’s decisions followed complaints from candidates and political parties whose names were omitted from the lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.

Its 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 membership registers mandatory.

Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge the exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of NDC governorship candidates in Kano State.

In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he sought a declaration that their exclusion was unlawful and an order compelling INEC to recognise them as the party’s candidates.

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

Meanwhile, Adebutu had challenged his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.