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.
According to the fee, that is topic to the outcomes of pending court docket instances.
The fee, nevertheless, rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who sought a overview of his exclusion from the listing of candidates.
A supply at INEC, who spoke to Daily Trust after the fee’s assembly on Thursday, mentioned the fee acquired 69 petitions from political events regarding omitted candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The supply mentioned about 36 petitions have been profitable, whereas the others failed.
“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 supply mentioned.
The supply, nevertheless, mentioned the fee was nonetheless awaiting the ultimate figures from its authorized division, which was engaged on the assertion to be issued on the selections.
On Pantami and Gwarzo, the supply mentioned the fee had no objection to their candidacies however famous that the pending court docket instances may have an effect on their eligibility.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the supply mentioned when requested in regards to the PDP candidate in Gombe State.
On Gwarzo, the supply mentioned his clearance remained topic to the result of the 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,” the supply mentioned.
The official added that the fee had no points with both candidate contesting the election, pending the decision of the authorized issues.
“But we have no issues with their contesting as candidates,” the supply mentioned.
The supply confirmed that Adebutu’s petition was unsuccessful.
“He did not succeed,” the official mentioned when requested in regards to the Ogun State PDP governorship candidate.
The choices adopted complaints by candidates and political events after INEC omitted their names from the lists printed forward of the 2027 common elections.
Pantami and Gwarzo are among the many outstanding governorship candidates whose names have been lacking from the fee’s listing launched in October.
INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, requiring events to submit their membership registers.
The fee mentioned its place adopted 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 obligatory.
Gwarzo had approached the court docket to problem the omission and that of his operating mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the listing of governorship candidates for Kano State.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he requested the court docket to declare their exclusion illegal and compel INEC to recognise them because the NDC’s governorship candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy has additionally been the topic of litigation, with the INEC supply noting {that a} court docket continuing was anticipated on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adebutu had questioned his exclusion from the ultimate listing of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the get together’s membership registration necessities.
INEC is predicted to situation a proper assertion on the result of the overview.
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