The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, subject to the outcome of pending court cases.

However, the commission rejected a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, who sought a review of his exclusion from the list of candidates.

A source at INEC, who spoke to Daily Trust after the commission’s meeting on Thursday, said it received 69 petitions from political parties concerning candidates omitted from the lists for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

According to the source, about 36 petitions were successful, while the remaining petitions were rejected.

“We received a total of 69 petitions from political parties. Some of them were successful, I think about 36, and the rest didn’t succeed,” the source said.

The source added that the commission was awaiting the final figures from its legal department, which was preparing an official statement on the decisions.

On Pantami and Gwarzo, the source said INEC had no objection to their candidacies, although the pending court cases could affect their eligibility.

“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said when asked about the PDP candidate in Gombe State.

Regarding Gwarzo, the source explained that his clearance remained subject to the outcome of the litigation challenging his candidacy.

“Because of the court case, the court may rule otherwise. So his approval is subject to whatever the court finally decides,” the source said.

The official maintained that the commission had no objection to either candidate contesting the election, pending the resolution of the legal disputes.

The source also confirmed that Adebutu’s petition was unsuccessful, stating, “He did not succeed.”

The decisions followed complaints by candidates and political parties after INEC omitted their names from the lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Pantami and Gwarzo were among the prominent governorship candidates whose names were missing from the commission’s list released in October.

INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which require political parties to submit their membership registers.

The commission said its position was based on a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, which makes the submission of membership registers mandatory.

Gwarzo had approached the court to challenge the omission of his name and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of governorship candidates for Kano State.

In an originating summons dated October 20, 2026, he asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship candidates.

Pantami’s candidacy has also been the subject of litigation, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.

Meanwhile, Adebutu had challenged his exclusion from the final list of governorship candidates in Ogun State, insisting that he remained a registered member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements.

INEC is expected to issue a formal statement on the outcome of the review.