2027: How Pantami, Kano Gov’ship Candidate Survived INEC Scare
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, and former Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 governorship elections, while rejecting a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, seeking reinstatement.
The decisions followed a review of petitions submitted by political parties and affected candidates whose names were omitted from INEC’s initial list of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates released on October 10.
However, the commission’s clearance of Pantami and Gwarzo remains subject to the outcomes of pending court cases challenging aspects of their candidacies.
A senior INEC official, who spoke to Daily Trust after a meeting that lasted more than six hours on Thursday, disclosed that the commission received 69 petitions from political parties over the exclusion of their candidates.
According to the official, approximately 36 petitions were successful, while the remaining applications were rejected. The commission was, however, awaiting final figures from its legal department.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the official said when asked about the former minister’s candidacy in Gombe State.
On Gwarzo, who is seeking to contest the Kano governorship election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the source explained that his clearance remained subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation.
“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the official said.
The source also confirmed that Adebutu’s petition was unsuccessful, stating simply: “He did not succeed.”
INEC had initially omitted several candidates from its October 10 list over concerns surrounding compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the statutory requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission subsequently granted affected candidates and political parties 14 days, ending October 24, to submit petitions seeking a review of their exclusion. It had promised to announce its final decisions on October 29.
The electoral umpire’s position was also linked to the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, making the submission of party membership registers mandatory.
INEC is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the outcome of the review. As of the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether the Kaduna NDC governorship candidate, Senator Danjuma Laah, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Benue State, Sebastine Hon, had secured clearance.
Gwarzo: INEC’s Decision Has Increased Our Popularity
Reacting to the restoration of Gwarzo’s name, the Kano NDC governorship candidate’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, said the controversy surrounding the initial omission had strengthened the party’s popularity and attracted additional supporters.
He maintained that the party had complied with all electoral requirements, including membership registration, nomination procedures and submission of the candidate’s details to INEC.
“We were not frightened because we followed all the laid-down procedures, from party membership to the nomination process and submission of our candidate’s details,” he said.
Shuaibu argued that what could have been a setback had instead generated public sympathy for the party.
“What the electoral commission intended as a setback has actually worked in our favour. It has increased our supporters, strengthened our popularity and made more people identify with us,” he said.
He added that the party would intensify its mobilisation and campaign activities across Kano State, expressing confidence that the development had improved its electoral prospects.
Similarly, Barrister Ibrahim Attahir, a member of Pantami’s legal team and spokesperson for the Pantamiya Movement, welcomed INEC’s decision, saying the group had remained confident that the rule of law would prevail.
He argued that the development demonstrated the importance of democratic institutions operating within the framework of the law.
“INEC is a product of the law and headed by a professor of law, so we are not surprised that the commission would adhere to democratic tenets and the rule of law,” Attahir said.
He also expressed confidence in the judiciary, dismissing concerns over the pending court cases involving Pantami’s candidacy.
Gombe PDP Aspirant Vows to Continue Legal Challenge
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Despite Pantami’s clearance, a PDP governorship aspirant in Gombe State, Usman Aliyu Garry, has vowed to sustain his legal challenge against the former minister’s candidacy.
Garry maintained that the dispute over the party’s governorship ticket remained unresolved, insisting that a case was still pending before the court.
He questioned the basis upon which INEC recognised Pantami as the PDP candidate despite the ongoing litigation and called on the commission to explain the legal grounds for its decision.
According to him, he would not withdraw his challenge until the outstanding issues surrounding Pantami’s eligibility had been addressed.
However, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Gombe State, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, said he was not aware of the commission’s latest decision when contacted.
He promised to consult the party leadership to establish its position and obtain further clarification.
Adebutu’s Camp Silent as Iyabo Obasanjo Criticises Exclusion
Meanwhile, Adebutu’s spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, did not respond to repeated telephone calls and a WhatsApp message seeking his reaction to INEC’s rejection of the petition.
However, the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, had earlier criticised Adebutu’s exclusion, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State of attempting to weaken political competition.
Speaking during an interview with The Arena, an Abeokuta-based podcast, the former senator alleged that the circumstances surrounding Adebutu’s omission raised questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011 and served as the state’s Commissioner for Health, described the development as a potential threat to democratic competition.
She said she initially dismissed reports of Adebutu’s exclusion because other PDP candidates for senatorial and House of Representatives seats had already been listed by INEC.
However, subsequent inquiries, she said, raised concerns about why Adebutu was treated differently despite allegedly following the same procedures as other candidates.
“What is it that Hon. Ladi did differently from what we did? And when I asked that question, I have a scientific mind. The answer was, he did the exact same thing, right? That we all did. The next question is why is his name not on in the list,” she queried.
Gwarzo’s Return Reopens Kano Governorship Contest
Political observers believe Gwarzo’s reinstatement could significantly influence the political calculations ahead of the 2027 Kano governorship election.
A former deputy governor with considerable political experience and name recognition, Gwarzo’s return restores the NDC’s presence in the contest and could compel rival parties to reassess their campaign strategies, alliances and voter mobilisation efforts.
His candidacy also creates an additional platform for voters dissatisfied with the major political parties, potentially reshaping voting patterns across the state.
The development comes as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the APC prepares for the contest, with Gwarzo’s emergence potentially making the race more competitive.
However, the ultimate implications will depend on the outcome of pending litigation, subsequent political alignments and the ability of the respective parties to consolidate their support bases.
Political scientist Dr Kabiru Sufi described INEC’s decision to clear Gwarzo as a positive development for democratic competition and public confidence in the electoral process.
He said the commission’s eventual recognition of the NDC candidate would enable the party to resume its preparations after weeks of uncertainty.
Sufi acknowledged that the initial omission had slowed the party’s activities but expressed optimism that it still had sufficient time to strengthen its political structures and mobilise supporters ahead of the election.
Pantami’s Clearance Revives Gombe Governorship Contest
In Gombe State, Pantami’s clearance has equally revived the prospect of a competitive governorship contest between the PDP and the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former minister’s name was missing from INEC’s initial list despite his emergence through a fresh party primary, triggering uncertainty and reactions among political stakeholders.
His subsequent clearance has restored his immediate opportunity to participate in the electoral race, although the pending litigation over his candidacy means the matter is not yet fully settled.
With legal challenges continuing in Gombe and Kano, and Adebutu’s reinstatement bid rejected in Ogun, INEC’s latest decisions have introduced another significant development into the preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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