Political tensions have emerged in Ogun State following the omission of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Showunmi Kolapo, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development has triggered a dispute between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with both parties offering contrasting explanations and interpretations of the omission.
The Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum and Elections Integrity Watch, a civil society group, had earlier raised concerns over Adebutu’s absence from the list, drawing attention to an issue that could affect preparations for the forthcoming governorship election.
PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Hon. Abayomi Tella, described the development as laughable and alleged that it amounted to a reprisal against the opposition party by the APC. He maintained that Adebutu’s name had been included in the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, also alleged that pressure from the ruling APC was responsible for the omission. He argued that the development reflected concerns within the ruling party about the forthcoming election, although no independent evidence establishing the allegation was provided in the account.
Adebayo insisted that Adebutu had fulfilled the party’s membership requirements, claiming that his membership card had been printed, verified and submitted within the stipulated period. He expressed confidence that INEC would eventually publish the candidate’s name and that Adebutu would contest the election.
The APC rejected the allegations, describing them as baseless and denying that it had pressured the electoral commission over the list.
In a statement issued by Chief Kayode Odunaro of the party’s Campaign Council, the APC accused the PDP of resorting to what it characterised as political blackmail. Odunaro argued that the allegations reflected the opposition party’s campaign approach and maintained that the record of Senator Solomon Adeola, the APC figure referenced in the statement, spoke for itself.
The disagreement places attention on the importance of candidate-list publication and compliance with electoral procedures ahead of the 2027 polls. However, the competing statements from both parties do not independently establish why Adebutu and his running mate were omitted.
Clarification from INEC on the circumstances surrounding the omission, the applicable requirements and any steps available to the affected candidates would be necessary to establish the position.
For now, the issue remains a point of contention between the two parties as political preparations continue in Ogun State.
