Daud Olatunji
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission to exclude its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, from the list of candidates for the 2027 election.
The allegation followed the omission of Adebutu’s name from INEC’s final list of governorship candidates, alongside that of the PDP’s candidate in Gombe State, Isa Pantami.
The electoral commission reportedly cited a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment on compliance with statutory requirements governing political parties’ membership registers for primaries, congresses and conventions as the basis for the omission.
However, the Ogun PDP, in a statement on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, rejected any suggestion that Adebutu was ineligible to contest the election, insisting that he remained a bona fide member of the party.
The party claimed that its candidate had completed the required digital membership registration within the stipulated period, adding that his membership card had been printed, verified and submitted to INEC at the appropriate time.
It consequently expressed confidence that the commission would publish Adebutu’s name, urging party supporters and residents of Ogun State not to panic over the development.
“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 alleged.
The PDP, however, did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate its allegation of pressure from the APC.
The party’s reaction came amid heightened political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with the omission raising fresh questions about the status of its candidate and the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision for party membership and nomination procedures.
While maintaining that Adebutu had never left the PDP, the opposition party argued that the omission would not derail its preparations for the election.
“We remain resolute, unfazed and unwaveringly confident that our candidate is marching straight to a decisive victory in the Ogun 2027 governorship election,” it said.
The party also urged its supporters to remain vigilant and focused on its campaign against the APC-led government in the state.
“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 statement added.
The PDP further described its campaign as a movement to rescue Ogun State and bring relief to residents, insisting that its political momentum remained strong despite the omission.
Meanwhile, the controversy places renewed attention on the application of the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment and how INEC is interpreting the ruling in determining candidates eligible for the 2027 elections.
The commission’s reported decision to omit the PDP candidates in Ogun and Gombe has raised concerns within the opposition, while the status of the governorship candidate in Rivers State has also attracted attention amid questions surrounding the nomination process.
As of the time of this report, the PDP’s statement did not indicate whether the party had formally approached a court or filed an appeal to compel INEC to include Adebutu’s name on the list.
INEC’s response to the Ogun PDP’s allegation was also not contained in the material available at the time of filing this report.
The unfolding dispute is expected to test the parties’ compliance with electoral laws and the extent to which the Supreme Court’s ruling will shape the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
