The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, despite pending court cases challenging their candidacies.
The commission said it had no objection to the candidacies of both politicians but noted that their clearance remained subject to the final decisions of the courts.
“Yes, Pantami has been cleared,” the source said when asked about the former minister, who is seeking to contest the Gombe State governorship election.
On Gwarzo, the official said his clearance could be affected by the outcome of litigation over his exclusion from the list of governorship candidates in Kano State.
“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 commission’s decision follows complaints by candidates and political parties whose names were omitted from the lists published ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Pantami and Gwarzo were among prominent governorship candidates missing from INEC’s list released in October.
INEC had attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission said its position followed 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 exclusion of himself and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, from the list of NDC governorship candidates in 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 party’s candidates.
Pantami’s candidacy is also the subject of litigation, with the INEC source indicating that a court proceeding was expected on Friday.
The source disclosed that INEC received 69 petitions from political parties over candidates omitted from the governorship and State Houses of Assembly election lists.
About 36 of the petitions were successful, while the remaining requests 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 commission’s legal department was still compiling the final figures ahead of a formal statement on the decisions.