2027 governorship candidates: INEC rejects Adebutu, Gwarzo, clears Pantami

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released its decision on Thursday, confirming that the petitions of two high‑profile governorship aspirants, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDCC) candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, were among the 64 that were rejected after a comprehensive review of complaints lodged over the final candidate lists. In the same round of determinations, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami was given the green light to contest the Gombe State governorship on the PDP platform.

The rulings came after INEC examined 69 petitions concerning governorship nominations and 61 petitions relating to state House of Assembly candidates. These petitions had been filed following the publication of the official candidate lists on 10 October 2026, a process that triggered a wave of legal challenges across the country.

A source inside INEC, who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorised to comment publicly, explained the specific reasons behind the two rejections. Regarding Adebutu, the source said his name never appeared on the PDP’s original submission to the commission, which automatically rendered his petition invalid. “His petition was rejected because his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to INEC by the PDP,” the source told The Punch. The omission, according to the insider, was a clerical error on the part of the party’s filing team rather than a deliberate exclusion.

In Gwarzo’s case, the situation is more complex. The deputy governor‑elect in Kano was poised to be listed by the NDCC, but a Federal High Court ex parte order barred INEC from publishing his name. The source said the court order effectively froze Gwarzo’s clearance until the litigation is resolved. “He would have scaled through, but unfortunately, there was an ex parte order from the Federal High Court barring INEC from publishing his name. That was the reason he was not cleared,” he added. The source stressed that Gwarzo’s fate now hinges on the outcome of the pending court case.

Pantami’s clearance, on the other hand, proceeded without such hurdles. The former communications minister’s name was found on the PDP’s submitted register, satisfying INEC’s verification requirements. The commission’s statement confirmed that Pantami’s clearance is final and that the updated list of candidates will be posted on INEC’s website by Friday.

The official INEC communiqué, signed by Mohammed Haruna, chairman of the commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee, detailed the broader outcome of the petition review. Of the 69 governorship petitions received from 12 political parties across 26 states, 41 were upheld while 28 were dismissed. For state House of Assembly contests, 61 petitions from 11 parties in 11 states were considered, with 25 approved and 36 rejected. Haruna noted that the commission had “found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties, while complaints found to be without merit were declined.” He also pointed out that a number of candidates were removed after verification showed they were not listed in the parties’ membership registers, a requirement mandated by Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The background to these disputes lies in the October 10, 2026 publication of final candidate lists, which sparked numerous challenges over alleged omissions, the inclusion of individuals not on party registers, and cases of multiple nominations. INEC’s earlier statement on 13 October 2026 linked many of the omissions to non‑compliance with the Electoral Act, which obliges parties to submit verified membership registers. A Supreme Court judgment dated 24 September 2026 affirmed the constitutionality of those provisions, giving the commission a solid legal footing to enforce the rules.

Political analysts say the removal of Adebutu and Gwarzo could shift the electoral calculus in two of Nigeria’s most contested states. Ogun State has traditionally been a battleground where the PDP and the All Progressives Congress trade victories, and the party will now have to scramble to name a replacement candidate who can mount a credible challenge. In Kano, the NDCC’s prospects are similarly affected; the party must decide whether to pursue further legal action for Gwarzo’s clearance or to field an alternative contender. Meanwhile, Pantami’s entry into the Gombe race adds a nationally recognised figure to the PDP slate, potentially altering the dynamics in the northeast where competition has been fierce.

The commission’s emphasis on transparency and adherence to the Electoral Act reflects its broader mandate to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process. By reviewing each petition against party membership registers and the legal framework, INEC aims to prevent irregularities that could undermine public confidence. The updated candidate list, reflecting the latest decisions, will be made publicly available on the commission’s website by the end of the day, allowing parties, candidates and voters to verify the final roster ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Stakeholders across the political spectrum are expected to keep a close watch on the publication. Any further discrepancies could trigger additional legal challenges, especially given the tight timelines before the elections. As the deadline approaches, parties will need to finalise their tickets, while the electorate prepares to assess the revised slate of contenders for governorship and state assembly seats. The next step, according to INEC, is the formal posting of the updated list, after which the electoral calendar will move forward toward the campaign period and ultimately the ballot box.