2027 Elections: INEC To Decide Fate Of Pantami, Others Today

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to hold a meeting today, Thursday, to make a final determination on the petitions filed by political parties and omitted candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statutory review involves prominent political figures whose names were excluded from the official candidate list released on October 10.

Affected candidates include former Communications Minister Isa Ali Pantami of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, and Ladi Adebutu of the PDP in Ogun State, alongside Senator Danjuma Laah (NDC, Kaduna) and Sebastine Hon of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Benue State.

Dawn Herald gathered that the board meeting, which will be presided over by INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan following his return from an official assignment in Gombe State, will evaluate preliminary departmental reports and recommendations regarding the petitions received before the October 24 deadline.

The electoral body had previously explained that the exclusion emanated from the failure of the affected political parties to submit their official membership registers as mandated by Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act 2026.

In an official press statement, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that the commission applied the apex court decision in line with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He clarified that while presidential and National Assembly candidate lists were published on September 12 before the Supreme Court ruling, the governorship list was finalised under the new judicial precedent.

Responding to the omission, the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, filed an originating summons in court on October 20 against INEC. Through the suit, Gwarzo and his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha, are seeking eight judicial reliefs, including a declaration that their exclusion is unlawful and a court order compelling the commission to recognise them as valid candidates.

In Gombe State, supporters of the former minister, Isa Ali Pantami, organised a special Qur’anic recitation and prayer session. Members of the political forum gathered to seek divine intervention for Pantami’s governorship ambition while praying for peace, stability, and progress across the state and the nation.

Meanwhile, the exclusion of the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, continues to trigger political ripples across the state. While Adebutu’s name appeared on the preliminary INEC list in August 2026, he was omitted from the final publication despite other Ogun PDP candidates, including Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, receiving full clearance.

Adebutu, addressing the development in an official public statement posted on his social media handles, insisted that his documentation was submitted within the prescribed timeframe.

“We will pursue this matter through the appropriate channels and insist that due process is respected. My documentation was duly submitted to INEC within the prescribed time. I have not at any point left the PDP, and my commitment to our great party remains unwavering”, Adebutu.

Commenting on the ongoing legal and administrative process, political analyst Professor Atah Pine stated that the forthcoming pronouncement by the commission will define the next course of action for affected candidates. He added that any candidate permanently excluded after today’s review retains the constitutional right to seek immediate judicial redress in the courts.