The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected 64 petitions challenging the final lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, leaving the candidacies of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) counterpart in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, unresolved.
However, the commission has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, to contest the Gombe State governorship election on the platform of the PDP.
An INEC source, who spoke with The PUNCH on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the development following the commission’s review of complaints concerning the published lists of candidates.
The source explained that Adebutu’s petition was unsuccessful because his name was absent from the list of candidates submitted to the commission by the PDP.
‘His petition was rejected because his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to INEC by the PDP,’ the source said.
On Gwarzo, the source disclosed that the Kano State deputy governor would have been cleared but for an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court, restraining INEC from publishing his name.
He said the status of Gwarzo’s candidacy would depend on the outcome of the legal proceedings surrounding his nomination.
‘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,’ the source added.
The source further disclosed that INEC would release an updated list of candidates on Friday.
The commission had initially published the names of candidates for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on its website on 10 October 2026. However, the names of Adebutu, Pantami, Gwarzo and some other candidates were absent from the publication.
In a statement issued on Thursday night, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission had upheld 66 petitions and rejected 64 others following its review of complaints against the final lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.
The petitions arose from the publication of the lists on 10 October and included complaints about the omission of political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were missing from their parties’ membership registers and allegations of multiple nominations.
Haruna said the commission examined the complaints alongside relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions.
‘Following a review of the complaints, relevant records and applicable legal provisions, the commission 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 said.
He added that some candidates whose names had been published erroneously were removed after the commission established that they were not included in the membership registers submitted by their respective political parties.
‘The commission also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with the applicable legal requirements,’ the statement added.
According to the commission, it received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states in respect of the governorship elections. Of the total, 41 were upheld, while 28 were rejected.
For the State Houses of Assembly elections, INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five were successful, while 36 were dismissed.
The commission said its decisions on the Assembly elections were based on the specific complaints submitted and assessed in line with the law and its established criteria.
INEC added that the names of affected candidates, political parties and states would be reflected in the revised lists to be published on its website.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and credible elections, the commission said all petitions had been considered on the basis of relevant documentation and applicable legal provisions.
The latest decision follows an earlier statement issued by INEC on 13 October 2026, in which it addressed complaints arising from the publication of the final lists of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.
At the time, the commission attributed some of the omissions to alleged breaches of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly provisions requiring political parties to submit their membership registers.
INEC said its position was informed by a Supreme Court judgment delivered on 24 September 2026, which affirmed the constitutionality of Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, making the submission of party membership registers mandatory.
