2027: INEC shocks Kano, dumps NDC's Gwarzo from final list, clears Pantami for Gombe PDP ticket

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released an updated final list of governorship candidates for the forthcoming elections.

In the updated list, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has been included as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate for Gombe State.

However, the candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, for Kano State, Gwarzo, is still omitted from the list, with INEC citing a subsisting court order as the reason for his omission.

INEC, in a statement, said the update was done after reviewing court judgments and party submissions.

The commission noted that while Pantami’s inclusion was approved following compliance with all legal requirements, the case of the Kano NDC candidate remains under litigation and therefore cannot be included until the court order is vacated.

“INEC updates final governorship list: Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, PDP, now included for Gombe, Kano NDC’s Gwarzo still omitted under court order,” INEC said in its update.

The commission said the final list will be published on its website and at all its state offices.