INEC approves Pantami and Gwarzo, rejects Adebutu in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Nigeria’s electoral commission INEC approved the candidacies of Isa Ali Pantami and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, but rejected that of Ladi Adebutu for the Ogun State governorship election. The commission reportedly received 69 petitions, about 36 of which were successful, according to an INEC source cited by Leadership.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approved 41 candidacies and rejected 28 after reviewing 69 petitions submitted by parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, Leadership reports. Among those whose candidacies were confirmed were former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the New Nigeria Development Party candidate for governor of Kano State. INEC rejected the petition concerning Ladi Adebutu, the People’s Democratic Party candidate for governor of Ogun State.
A source within the commission said that decisions concerning Pantami and Gwarzo could be affected by ongoing court proceedings. Pantami’s lawyer, Attahir Ibrahim, said he was satisfied with the approval. INEC was still preparing the final figures ahead of issuing an official statement, according to the source cited by Leadership.
The decisions provide details of the review of candidacies that INEC had already announced on 29 October: the commission had approved 41 cases and rejected 28. That same day, it confirmed the candidacies of Pantami and Gwarzo for the 2027 elections, after beginning to review rejected candidacies.
