*Hon Ladi Adebutu.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has acknowledged the omission of its governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, from the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 governorship election.
The opposition party attributed the development to alleged pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that the party was attempting to influence the electoral process ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
However, the PDP did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, while INEC has yet to publicly explain the specific reason for Adebutu’s omission.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, the PDP urged residents of Ogun State, party members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the development would not affect its preparations for the election.
The party maintained that Adebutu remained a bona fide member of the PDP and had complied with the party’s membership registration requirements within the stipulated period.
According to the statement, Adebutu completed the party’s digital membership registration exercise, obtained a membership card and had his registration verified before the relevant documents were submitted to INEC.
The statement read in part: “We state emphatically that our candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, who has never left the Peoples Democratic Party at any time, duly registered as a member of the party within the designated period of the digital registration, with his party membership card printed, verified and submitted to INEC at the stipulated time.”
The PDP alleged that the omission resulted from pressure mounted on the electoral commission by the APC, which it accused of being apprehensive about the outcome of the forthcoming election.
“The public should be informed that the omission of our candidate’s name in the INEC list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election to our party,” the statement said.
The allegation was not accompanied by documentary evidence, and the commission has not publicly confirmed that political pressure played any role in the preparation of the candidates’ list.
The PDP nevertheless expressed confidence that Adebutu would contest the election, assuring its supporters that efforts would be made to resolve the matter.
It urged the people of Ogun State not to be distracted by the development, reiterating its determination to challenge the APC in the 2027 governorship poll.
The PDP also called on its members to remain committed to its political activities, expressing optimism about its chances in the election.
“No amount of desperate manipulation, political witch-hunts, or calculated distractions can alter the mandate of the people of Ogun State who are overwhelmingly eager for true leadership and positive change,” the party stated.
It further urged supporters to remain steadfast and undeterred as it pursued what it described as a mission to rescue the state and bring relief to residents.
Adebutu’s omission has raised questions about the documentation supporting his nomination and the circumstances surrounding the preparation of INEC’s final list of governorship candidates.
The resolution of the matter will depend on the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the relevant procedures governing the publication of candidates’ names.
The PDP is expected to seek clarification from INEC and pursue any available administrative or legal remedies if it believes the omission was an error.
For the opposition party, the immediate challenge is to establish that its candidate fulfilled the applicable requirements and to secure the inclusion of his name on the list in accordance with the law.
INEC’s response will be crucial in clarifying the circumstances surrounding the omission and determining the next steps in the dispute.
As preparations for the 2027 Ogun governorship election continue, the controversy presents a significant issue for the PDP, which insists that Adebutu remains its candidate and is eligible to contest the poll.
The electoral commission has yet to publicly state the specific reason for excluding him from the published list.
When contacted, Mr. Adedayo Eriye Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) INEC promised to get back to The Shield Online on the matter. He was however yet to do so as at the time this story was filed.