2027: INEC throws out Adebutu's petition as Pantami, Kano NDC candidate make checklist

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed a petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship hopeful in Ogun State, over his exclusion from the checklist of candidates for the 2027 elections.

DAILY POST gathered that the fee took the choice at its assembly on Thursday, the place it thought of complaints from political events and candidates omitted from the printed checklist.

While Adebutu did not safe a reprieve, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami and Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate in Kano State, had been cleared to contest, with Gwarzo’s clearance pending the willpower of court docket instances.

A prime INEC supply stated the fee acquired 69 petitions in regards to the omission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates, with about 36 succeeding.

According to the supply, Pantami was cleared outright, whereas Gwarzo’s clearance was conditional on the result of litigation instituted over his exclusion.

Adebutu, nevertheless, was unsuccessful.

“The Ogun PDP candidate did not succeed,” the supply stated, confirming that his identify wouldn’t be restored to the checklist.

The growth is linked to INEC’s enforcement of Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates political events to submit their membership registers.

The fee’s place was strengthened by a Supreme Court judgement delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld the availability as constitutional.

It was learnt that Gwarzo, in a swimsuit filed on October 20, 2026, requested the court docket to declare his exclusion and that of his operating mate, Rabiu Mustapha, illegal and compel INEC to recognise them because the NDC’s governorship candidates in Kano State.

Pantami’s case is earlier than the court docket, with a listening to anticipated on Friday.

Adebutu had argued that he was a bona fide member of the PDP and had complied with all membership registration necessities.