The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a petition filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship hopeful in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, challenging his exclusion from the list of candidates for the 2027 elections.
The commission reportedly reached the decision at its meeting on Thursday, where it considered complaints from political parties and candidates omitted from the published list of candidates.
While Adebutu failed to secure a reversal of his exclusion, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, were cleared to contest.
However, Gwarzo’s clearance remains subject to the outcome of pending court cases concerning his exclusion.
A source within INEC disclosed that the commission received 69 petitions relating to the omission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates, with approximately 36 of the complaints succeeding.
According to the source, Pantami received an outright clearance, while Gwarzo’s clearance was conditional on the outcome of litigation instituted over his exclusion.
Adebutu, however, was unsuccessful, with the source confirming that his name would not be restored to the list.
The development is linked to the enforcement of Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC.
The commission’s position was further reinforced by a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld the constitutionality of the relevant provisions.
Meanwhile, Gwarzo had approached the court in a suit filed on October 20, 2026, seeking to overturn his exclusion and that of his running mate, Rabiu Mustapha.
He asked the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and compel INEC to recognise them as the NDC’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Kano State.
Pantami’s case is also before the court, with a hearing reportedly expected on Friday.
Adebutu had maintained that he was a legitimate member of the PDP and had fulfilled all requirements for party membership registration.
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