The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly granted provisional clearance to former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, subject to the outcomes of pending court cases.
The development was reported by Vanguard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, citing an unnamed source familiar with the commission’s deliberations.
According to the report, the decisions were reached during an INEC meeting convened to consider complaints from political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The source reportedly said the commission had no objection to the candidacies of Pantami and Gwarzo at this stage, but cautioned that the pending legal proceedings could still affect their final eligibility.
INEC had earlier excluded Pantami’s name from the final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State, despite his inclusion on the provisional list published on August 29, 2026. The reported provisional clearance could therefore mark a significant development in the controversy surrounding his participation in the forthcoming election.
Pantami, a former minister under the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s predecessor, emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate after leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 19, 2026.
His candidacy, however, became the subject of litigation after another aspirant, Ahmed Mailantarki Mailantarki, challenged the outcome of the party’s primary election.
A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe reportedly nullified the primary and ordered a fresh exercise, which Pantami subsequently won.
Despite the fresh primary, questions remained over his eligibility following a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment restoring provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and candidate eligibility.
The provisions cited in the dispute require political parties to comply with statutory requirements concerning the submission of membership registers to INEC within the prescribed period. The interpretation and application of these provisions have become significant issues in determining which candidates can participate in the 2027 elections.
INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna had previously indicated that the Supreme Court’s decision could prevent some political parties from fielding candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The reported provisional clearance does not necessarily resolve the legal questions surrounding Pantami’s candidacy. The outcome of pending proceedings and any subsequent decisions by the courts could determine his final status on the ballot.
In Kano State, Gwarzo was also reportedly among the candidates whose cases were considered during the commission’s deliberations. However, details of the specific legal dispute affecting his candidacy were not fully provided in the report.
Meanwhile, the commission reportedly rejected a petition by the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who had sought a review of his exclusion from the list of candidates.
As political parties prepare for the 2027 elections, the developments highlight the growing influence of litigation and statutory compliance in determining candidate eligibility. The disputes also underscore the importance of timely resolution of electoral cases to provide certainty for political parties, aspirants and voters.
INEC had not immediately issued an official public response confirming the reported decisions when Vanguard published its account. The reported clearance of Pantami and Gwarzo should therefore be treated as provisional pending formal confirmation and the resolution of relevant court proceedings.
IBN News — Bringing You the News That Matters.
