Iyabo Obasanjo, the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, has expressed confidence that the omission of the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission's list of contestants will not affect the party's chances in the 2027 elections. Obasanjo, a former senator who represented Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011, said the PDP remained determined to perform strongly in the state. She insisted that Adebutu's name would eventually be restored to the INEC list.
Obasanjo dismissed suggestions that the controversy surrounding Adebutu's name could weaken the PDP's chances in the state. Instead, she believes the development could expose the opposition's alleged fear of a competitive election. "No. Our people are firm in what they want to do. I believe Ladi's name will be back," she said. Obasanjo described Adebutu's omission as a threat to democracy, alleging that powerful political interests were attempting to eliminate competition rather than win elections through the ballot.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health said she initially dismissed reports of Adebutu's omission because the lists of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates had already been published. However, further inquiries raised questions about why the governorship candidate's name was missing when other PDP candidates had completed similar processes. Obasanjo added that Adebutu did the same processes as other candidates, raising questions about why his name was not on the list.
Obasanjo alleged that political opponents had taken steps to influence the situation, describing such actions as illegal. She expressed confidence that Adebutu's name would eventually be restored, warning that allowing politicians to manipulate electoral institutions to exclude perceived challengers could undermine democracy. "If this happens, then a democracy will crash because everybody that is a money bag will go to Abuja and give the neutral institution money to remove anybody they think can beat them," she said.
The PDP candidate urged Nigerians to view the controversy as a broader test of the country's commitment to democratic principles. She argued that it was not just about Adebutu or the party, but about the democracy Nigeria runs. Obasanjo emphasized that the development could have far-reaching implications for the country's electoral system and its ability to ensure free and fair elections.
Obasanjo's comments come as the 2027 elections approach, with various stakeholders closely monitoring the situation. The INEC has assured Nigerians of its commitment to conducting credible elections. However, the controversy surrounding Adebutu's omission has raised concerns about the potential for electoral manipulation and the need for vigilant monitoring of the electoral process.
The PDP and its supporters have called for calm, assuring that the party remains committed to winning the elections through legitimate means. The party has urged Nigerians to remain confident in the democratic process and to report any irregularities or attempts to manipulate the electoral process. Key issues, including Adebutu's omission and its implications, will likely continue to shape the electoral landscape in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Iyabo Obasanjo is confident that Ladi Adebutu's name will be restored to the INEC list.
- Obasanjo alleges that powerful political interests are attempting to eliminate competition rather than win elections through the ballot.
- The controversy surrounding Adebutu's omission has raised concerns about the potential for electoral manipulation and the need for vigilant monitoring of the electoral process.
