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| People Democratic Party |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exerting undue pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the omission of its governorship candidate, Oladipupo “Ladi” Adebutu, and his running mate from the commission’s final list of candidates for the February 2027 election. The opposition party insists the exclusion will not stand and expresses confidence that Adebutu’s name will ultimately appear, framing the episode as an attempt to undermine a competitive challenge in a state long controlled by the APC.
INEC released the final list of governorship candidates over the weekend, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony. The document listed 13 candidates from various parties for Ogun State but contained no entry for the PDP. Among those cleared were APC’s Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (popularly known as Yayi) and his running mate Kudirat Abiodun Balogu n, as well as candidates from the African Democratic Congress (ADC, included following a court order), Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, and several smaller parties. Adebutu’s absence, alongside that of his running mate Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, stood out because other PDP candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats in Ogun appeared on the corresponding lists.
In a statement, Ogun PDP Publicity Secretary Arc. Kayode Adebayo urged residents and party supporters to remain calm. He alleged that the omission resulted from “undue pressure” mounted by the APC “out of fear of losing the election to our party.” Adebayo maintained that Adebutu “has never left the Peoples Democratic Party at any time,” completed digital membership registration within the designated period, and had his membership card printed, verified, and submitted to INEC on time. The party described Adebutu’s candidacy as part of a broader movement for “true leadership and positive change” in Ogun and vowed that no political manipulation or distraction would halt its campaign.
Adebutu himself issued a personal statement addressing the concerns. “I am aware of the concerns following the omission of my name from INEC’s published list of Ogun governorship candidates for the 2027 election. I consider it important to address you directly and reassure you that there is no cause for alarm,” he said. He reiterated that he remains a duly registered PDP member, completed the digital registration process, had his membership card printed and verified, and submitted documentation within the prescribed timeframe. He noted that INEC officials observed the primary that produced him as candidate and that the circumstances raised “serious questions,” particularly given the inclusion of other PDP nominees across different levels. Adebutu indicated the party would pursue the matter through appropriate channels.
The APC rejected the allegations. Kayode Odunaro, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Adeola and chairman of the Ogun APC Campaign Council’s Media and Publicity Committee, accused the PDP of playing a “blame game” rather than confronting its own shortcomings. He argued that the omission stemmed from the PDP’s failure to follow “simple administrative procedures and adherence to rules of the game,” noting that candidates in other states faced similar outcomes for non-compliance.
Odunaro stated that the APC and its candidate were prepared to contest against any certified nominee but saw no value in focusing on a party whose candidate the electoral commission had not listed. He described such failures as equivalent to fielding an ineligible player.
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Background and the Membership Dispute
Adebutu, a former member of the House of Representatives from the Remo area, was the PDP’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election, where he finished second to the APC’s Dapo Abiodun. He emerged as the party’s consensus candidate for 2027 through an affirmation process monitored by INEC. Questions about his eligibility had circulated in the weeks leading up to the list’s release. Groups such as the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum and Elections Integrity Watch claimed that a certified true copy of the PDP membership register obtained from INEC did not contain Adebutu’s name.
These concerns referenced recent Supreme Court interpretations of provisions in the Electoral Act governing party membership registers and their use in internal processes. The Ogun PDP had previously dismissed such claims as baseless, insisting Adebutu was a fully registered and financially compliant member and that all statutory requirements for register submission had been met.
Similar omissions occurred elsewhere. In Gombe State, former Communications Minister Isa Pantami’s name was also missing from the PDP list, contributing to a broader picture in which the PDP lacked listed governorship candidates in a handful of states. INEC has not publicly detailed the specific reason for Adebutu’s exclusion in its published document. Under the Electoral Act, parties whose candidates’ names are missing from the published list have a defined window to notify the commission in writing, supported by an affidavit, and to seek resolution through administrative or judicial means.
Political Stakes in Ogun
Ogun State, a southwestern industrial and commercial hub bordering Lagos, has been under APC control in recent cycles. Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration is approaching the end of its tenure, and Senator Adeola, a prominent federal legislator, enters the race as a strong frontrunner with significant establishment backing. The PDP views Adebutu’s candidacy as a vehicle to reclaim the governorship, capitalizing on local grievances and positioning the contest as a choice between continuity and change. The early exclusion of the main opposition flagbearer, if sustained, would significantly alter the competitive landscape months before the February 2027 polls, potentially reducing the race’s intensity and shifting focus to smaller parties or legal battles.
Analysts note that candidate list disputes frequently become flashpoints in Nigerian elections, often testing INEC’s independence and the robustness of internal party processes. While the PDP frames the issue as external interference driven by electoral fear, the APC portrays it as a straightforward consequence of procedural non-compliance—an interpretation that aligns with the commission’s past emphasis on strict adherence to membership register and nomination timelines. Independent verification of either the pressure claims or the precise documentary basis for the omission remains pending, as INEC has not issued a detailed public explanation specific to this case.
The episode underscores ongoing tensions around party membership documentation in the digital registration era and the high political cost of administrative gaps. Adebutu and the Ogun PDP have signaled they will not abandon the contest without challenge, while the APC has urged the opposition to accept the umpire’s decision and focus on its own internal shortcomings. As parties prepare for the months ahead, the resolution of this dispute—whether through clarification, amendment of the list, or court intervention—will shape both the Ogun governorship race and perceptions of electoral integrity in the lead-up to 2027.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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