2027: INEC to decide on Pantami, Gwarzo, Adebutu’s eligibility today

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today, take a final decision on the chances of candidates nominated by some political parties whose names did not appear on the list of those cleared by the commission to contest the 2027 elections.

The list released on October 10, had excluded governorship candidates like the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, who was nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Gombe State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate for Kano State; the Kaduna NDC governorship candidate, Senator Danjuma Laah; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate for Benue State, Sebastine Hon and many others.

A source at INEC told Daily Trust yesterday that the usual weekly meeting with top officials of the commission will hold today and that the issue of the omitted candidates will be treated.

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“There will be the week’s commission meeting tomorrow, (today), God willing. And most likely, we will conclude the Pantami/Gwarzo & co matter by the end of the meeting,” he stated.

INEC had after the release of the list on October 10, explained that some candidates were excluded from the list because their political parties failed to submit membership registers as required by law.

The commission said the exclusion followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgement affirming the constitutionality of Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which makes the submission of membership registers mandatory for political parties.

National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, had explained in a press statement that the Supreme Court, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, upheld the provisions requiring parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries.

The commission explained that it applied the judgement while finalising the governorship candidates’ list in compliance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires authorities to give effect to decisions of superior courts.

It added that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had already been published on September 12, 2026, 13 days before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement.

INEC said political parties that believed their candidates had been wrongly omitted could notify the commission in accordance with Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, saying the deadline for such notifications was October 24, 2026.

Following the confirmation of the submission of petitions by affected candidates and the promise by INEC to take a final decision on the matter by today, Thursday 29th, it is expected that since the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has returned from an official trip to Gombe State and will be attending the meeting, coupled with the pressure mounted by political parties and candidates, the commission will no longer delay the matter.

INEC is expected to consider the petitions following the expiration of the statutory window for challenging nominations.

Another senior official at the commission confirmed to Daily Trust that the commission would hold a meeting today.

A source within the commission had earlier told the newspaper that several petitions were received before the deadline and were being reviewed by the relevant departments ahead of consideration by the commission.

The omissions came amid disputes over compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party primaries, nomination of candidates and the publication of candidates’ particulars.

INEC had earlier indicated that aggrieved parties and other eligible persons could challenge candidates’ particulars within the prescribed period after publication.

The commission said it would examine the petitions in line with the applicable law and determine the appropriate action.

INEC is expected to consider the petitions and determine the appropriate action in accordance with the relevant provisions of the electoral law.

The source attributed the possible delay in considering the petitions to the zonal tour by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 general elections.