Pantami’s reinstatement on INEC list excites supporters

On Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected 64 petitions challenging the final lists of candidates for the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Among those rejections, Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, and Aminu Gwarzo, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano State, had their petitions rejected.

However, Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, had his candidacy confirmed by INEC for the upcoming elections.

A source within INEC, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Adebutu and Gwarzo's candidacies were uncertain as their names were not included in the list of candidates submitted to INEC by their respective parties. The source also clarified that Gwarzo's name would have been included in the list, but for an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court that barred INEC from publishing his name. This order would need to be resolved for Gwarzo's candidacy to be finalized.

The final list of candidates, which included Adebutu, Pantami, Gwarzo, and others, was previously published on INEC's website on October 10, 2026. Following the publication, several petitions were filed, raising concerns about the omission of political parties, the inclusion of unauthorized candidates, and alleged multiple nominations. INEC reviewed these complaints and upheld 66 petitions while rejecting 64 others, based on relevant records and applicable legal provisions.