By Spear News Desk
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking a review of his exclusion from the 2027 governorship candidates’ list.
The commission, however, 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 — subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.
The decisions followed a meeting of the commission on Thursday, where it reviewed 69 petitions from political parties concerning omitted candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. According to a source at INEC, about 36 of the petitions were successful, while the others failed.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said. On Gwarzo, the source explained that his clearance remains subject to the outcome of litigation involving his candidacy. “Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides. But we have no issues with their contesting as candidates.”
On Adebutu, the source was blunt: “He did not succeed.”
Adebutu Insists He Complied
Adebutu had questioned his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.
His petition was among those rejected by the commission.
Background to the Omissions
Pantami and Gwarzo were among the prominent governorship candidates whose names were missing from the commission’s list released in October. INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission said 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 omission of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the Kano State governorship candidates’ list. 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 has also been the subject of litigation, with a court proceeding expected on Friday.
What Next
INEC is expected to issue a formal statement on the outcome of the review, with its legal department still working on final figures. For Adebutu, the rejection leaves the Ogun PDP in uncertain territory ahead of the 2027 governorship race, while Pantami and Gwarzo can breathe easier — at least until the courts have their say.
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