2027 Elections: Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo Await INEC Decision Today

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to decide on Thursday, October 29, the fate of several governorship candidates omitted from its final list for the February 6, 2027 elections, including former Communications Minister Isa Ali Pantami, former Ogun State governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed that the commission would consider the final list of candidates at its meeting on Thursday, raising expectations that the disputed omissions could be resolved.

The affected candidates were excluded from the final list published on October 10, prompting protests, petitions and legal moves by their political parties.

Pantami is seeking the Gombe State governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Adebutu is the party’s candidate in Ogun State. Gwarzo is contesting in Kano State under the NDC, with his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso. The NDC’s Kaduna State governorship candidate, Senator Danjuma Laah, is also among those affected.

Other candidates reportedly omitted include Sebastine Hon of the Social Democratic Party in Benue State, Abdullahi Yakubu of the SDP in Bauchi, Musa Zubairu of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ahmed Shuaibu of the Action Alliance and Mohammed Aminu of Accord, all in Bauchi State.

INEC’s decision is expected to follow complaints from the affected parties, which insist that they fulfilled the legal requirements for nominating their candidates.

The dispute centres on Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the prescribed period before conducting valid primaries, congresses and conventions.

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The commission said it excluded the candidates because their political parties failed to comply with the membership-register requirements. It based its position on a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment that upheld the constitutionality of the relevant provisions of the law.

INEC also cited the court’s decision in the case involving the Zenith Labour Party, which affirmed the commission’s timetable requiring political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

The commission maintained that parties that failed to meet the statutory requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates in the affected elections.

However, the PDP and the NDC have challenged the exclusions, arguing that they complied with the relevant provisions and that their candidates were wrongly omitted.

The PDP has engaged INEC over the exclusion of Pantami and Adebutu. The party also filed an affidavit at the Federal High Court registry in Abuja on October 15 challenging the omissions.

In Ogun State, PDP Chairman Abayomi Tella described Adebutu’s exclusion as an error, insisting that the party had fulfilled the necessary requirements and expressing confidence that INEC would restore his name.

Pantami’s name had appeared on INEC’s provisional list published on August 29 before it was missing from the final list issued on October 10. He emerged as the PDP’s Gombe governorship candidate after a court-ordered rerun of the party’s primary on September 29.

The former minister’s camp has indicated that it would pursue legal options if the commission fails to resolve the dispute.

Similarly, the NDC has protested the omission of Gwarzo and his running mate. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said it had written to INEC and received acknowledgements but had yet to receive a substantive response.

Gwarzo has also approached the court, seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise him and his running mate as the party’s candidates for the Kano governorship election.

The deadline for political parties to notify INEC of candidates they believed had been wrongly omitted expired on October 24, in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

Thursday’s meeting is therefore expected to clarify the commission’s position on the petitions and whether any changes will be made to the final list.

However, INEC has not announced that any of the affected candidates will be reinstated. Their eligibility remains subject to the commission’s decision and any further judicial determination.

The outcome could have significant implications for the affected parties as preparations continue for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections.