A dispute has erupted between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ogun State over the omission of PDP's gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) final list for the 2027 elections. The PDP has reacted to the development, insisting that Adebutu's name was submitted to INEC.
The crisis began when a civil society group, Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum (ODAF) and Elections Integrity Watch (EIW), raised an alarm over the omission of Adebutu's name from PDP's register submitted to INEC. PDP's party Chairman, Hon. Abayomi Tella, described the development as laughable and a reprisal attack from the APC.
Tella insisted that Adebutu's name is on PDP membership register submitted to INEC, questioning the source of the groups' and APC's claim that Adebutu's name was missing. He added that Ogun is not Lagos State and the electorates will stand by their votes just like Osun State Governorship election.
However, the development took another turn when Adebutu's name and his running mate, Yemi Showunmi Kolapo, were found missing on the INEC final list. This triggered a war of words between the two parties in Ogun State, with PDP's Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, alleging that the omission was due to undue pressure mounted on INEC by the APC.
Adebayo urged the people of the state not to be distracted about the omission but remain steadfast and focus on voting out APC in the forthcoming elections. He assured that Adebutu's name would be published by INEC soon and he would emerge victorious.
In a swift reaction, the APC denied putting pressure on INEC to omit Adebutu's name on the list, describing the allegation as "baseless and tissues of lies". APC's Chairman of Madia and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun State, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said that PDP's allegation was a testament of its impending electoral defeat by the ruling party.
Odunaro argued that the PDP's resort to cheap blackmail, baseless rumors, and dramatic allegations showed that the main opposition party lacked a credible campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that Senator Solomon Adeola was not bothered by PDP's allegation but was focused on his legislative duties and open consultations with the good people of the state.
Key points
- The PDP and APC are in a dispute over the omission of Ladi Adebutu's name from INEC's final list for the 2027 elections.
- The PDP alleges that the APC put pressure on INEC to omit Adebutu's name, while the APC denies the allegation.
- The development has triggered a war of words between the two parties in Ogun State.
