INEC Clears Isa Pantami and Aminu Gwarzo for 2027 Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and former Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, were successful in the commission’s review of complaints concerning their candidacies for the 2027 governorship elections.

The development follows petitions submitted against candidates listed for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, with the commission reviewing complaints from political parties across several states.

Pantami, who is seeking the governorship of Gombe State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was previously excluded from INEC’s published list of candidates. His successful petition review means the commission has acknowledged his eligibility at this stage of the process.

However, his candidacy remains subject to the outcome of a pending court case, according to Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education.

Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, also received a successful outcome in the commission’s review. His situation, however, comes with a separate legal complication.

Haruna explained that the publication of Gwarzo’s name on the updated candidate list would depend on the final outcome of an ex-parte order issued by a Kano Federal High Court on October 27. The order directed INEC not to publish any candidate under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

This means that although the commission described Gwarzo’s petition as successful, the court order remains relevant to whether his name can appear on the final list.

The distinction is important because the commission’s review and the court proceedings are separate parts of the process. A successful petition review does not automatically remove the legal restrictions created by an existing court order.

INEC also disclosed that it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship candidates. Of these, 41 petitions were successful, while 28 were unsuccessful.

For the State House of Assembly elections, the commission received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five petitions succeeded, while 36 were rejected.

The commission said the decisions followed its review of complaints and objections relating to the final lists of candidates. It also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with applicable legal requirements.

The affected candidates, political parties and states are expected to be reflected in the updated candidate list on INEC’s website.

The review comes as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with candidate eligibility already emerging as an important issue in several states.

For Pantami, the development provides an opportunity to continue his political preparations in Gombe, although the pending court case means that his position is not entirely free from legal uncertainty.

The former minister previously served in the Federal Government as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. His move into the governorship race has made him one of the prominent figures in the political contest in Gombe State.

Gwarzo’s situation also highlights the complications that can arise when electoral disputes intersect with court orders and party recognition. His successful petition review is a significant development, but the restriction on publishing his name means that the next legal steps will be important.

The commission’s decisions also demonstrate how disputes over candidate lists can shape political activities long before election campaigns officially begin.

As the 2027 elections approach, the resolution of eligibility disputes will remain important to political parties, candidates and voters. The updated lists and subsequent court decisions will help determine which candidates can proceed with their campaigns.

For now, INEC has confirmed successful outcomes for both Pantami and Gwarzo, but their respective legal circumstances remain different. Pantami’s candidacy is subject to a pending court case, while Gwarzo’s publication on the candidate list is affected by the Kano court order.