The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly granted provisional clearance to former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 general elections.
The development followed the commission’s review of complaints and petitions submitted by political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from the final lists of candidates published ahead of the elections.
However, the clearance granted to both politicians remains subject to the outcome of pending court cases challenging aspects of their candidacies.
The decision was disclosed by a source within INEC following the commission’s meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2026, where complaints relating to the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were considered.
The source confirmed that the electoral body had no objection to the candidacies of Pantami and Gwarzo, although the courts retain the authority to determine the outstanding legal disputes.
The development is significant for both politicians, whose exclusion from the initial list of candidates had generated legal challenges and political discussions in their respective states.
Pantami’s Candidacy Gets INEC’s Approval
Pantami, who is seeking to become the governor of Gombe State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was among the prominent candidates whose names were missing from INEC’s final list published on October 10, 2026.
His exclusion came despite his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate following the party’s primary election.
The former minister had earlier defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP on May 19, 2026, before securing the party’s governorship ticket.
However, his emergence as the party’s candidate faced a legal challenge from another aspirant, Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, who questioned the outcome of the primary election.
A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had earlier nullified the primary and ordered the party to conduct another exercise.
Pantami subsequently participated in the fresh primary and emerged as the party’s candidate again.
Despite this development, questions surrounding his eligibility continued, particularly following the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026, on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers.
INEC’s reported decision to clear Pantami represents a significant development in the process of determining candidates eligible to participate in the Gombe governorship election.
However, the pending court proceedings mean that the final legal position on his candidacy remains subject to judicial determination.
Gwarzo Also Receives Provisional Clearance
Similarly, INEC has reportedly granted provisional clearance to Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State.
Gwarzo was also excluded from the commission’s initial list of candidates, prompting him to approach the court to challenge the decision.
The politician filed a legal action challenging the exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates submitted by the NDC.
In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, Gwarzo asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the party’s candidates for the Kano governorship election.
However, the legal dispute surrounding his candidacy remains unresolved.
An INEC source explained that although the commission had no objection to Gwarzo contesting the election, its decision would ultimately depend on the outcome of the court proceedings.
The source reportedly stated that the court could still make a decision that might affect the candidate’s eligibility.
Consequently, Gwarzo’s provisional clearance should not be interpreted as the final resolution of the legal dispute.
INEC Receives 69 Petitions From Political Parties
The commission’s review followed the submission of numerous complaints by political parties and candidates who were dissatisfied with their omission from the published lists.
According to an INEC source, the commission received 69 petitions relating to governorship candidates across different states.
The source disclosed that approximately 36 of the petitions were successful, while the remaining complaints were unsuccessful.
The commission’s legal department was reportedly compiling the final figures ahead of an official communication on the outcome of the review.
The petitions covered different complaints, including the exclusion of candidates, disputes over party nominations and questions surrounding compliance with electoral requirements.
The review was intended to determine whether the affected candidates and political parties had met the relevant legal and administrative conditions for participation in the elections.
Why Some Candidates Were Excluded
INEC’s earlier decision to omit several candidates from its final list was linked to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly requirements concerning the submission of political party membership registers.
The commission’s position followed a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The provisions concern political party membership records and the requirements parties must satisfy when presenting candidates for elections.
INEC maintained that political parties were expected to comply with the relevant legal provisions when submitting their candidates.
The commission’s actions have generated concerns among some politicians and party supporters, particularly those whose candidates were affected by the exclusions.
However, the electoral body has maintained that its decisions are guided by the law and the documents submitted by political parties.