The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude its 2027 governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, from the commission’s list. This allegation was made in a statement released by the PDP on October 11, 2026. The party expressed confidence that Adebutu’s name would be published by INEC and that he would emerge as governor in the 2027 election.
According to the PDP, the omission of Adebutu’s name from the INEC list reflects the ruling party’s fear of losing the governorship election. The party urged its supporters and residents of the state to remain calm while the matter was addressed. It maintained that Adebutu remained a bona fide member of the PDP and had not left the party at any time. The PDP also stated that Adebutu completed his digital membership registration within the stipulated period.
The PDP further claimed that Adebutu’s party membership card had been printed and verified, and that the required documentation was submitted to INEC within the prescribed deadline. The party argued that these steps entitled its candidate to be included on the commission’s list. It insisted that the omission of Adebutu’s name would not derail its preparations for the 2027 governorship election.
The PDP urged its members and supporters not to be distracted by the development, calling on them to remain focused on its campaign to unseat the APC in Ogun State. The party stated that no amount of desperate manipulation, political witch-hunts, or calculated distractions could alter the mandate of the people of Ogun State who are overwhelmingly eager for true leadership and positive change.
The PDP called on its supporters and party faithful to remain steadfast and vigilant, expressing confidence that its campaign would continue to gain momentum ahead of the election. The party framed the dispute as an attempt to frustrate its electoral ambitions. However, it did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate its allegation that the APC pressured INEC to omit Adebutu’s name.
INEC’s position on the omission was not contained in the statement. The commission’s explanation, as well as any response from the APC, would be necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the candidate’s absence from the list. The dispute comes amid political preparations for the 2027 Ogun governorship election, with the PDP insisting that Adebutu remains its candidate and vowing to pursue the matter.
The PDP’s statement concluded by emphasizing its determination to participate in the 2027 governorship election and to challenge the APC’s dominance in Ogun State. The party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, remains a central figure in the dispute. The development has sparked tensions between the PDP and APC in Ogun State, with implications for the state’s electoral landscape.
Key points
- The PDP accused the APC of pressuring INEC to exclude Oladipupo Adebutu from the commission’s list.
- The PDP expressed confidence that Adebutu’s name would be published by INEC and that he would emerge as governor in the 2027 election.
- The dispute reflects the intense political rivalry between the PDP and APC in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
