A dispute has emerged between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and two civil society groups, Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum (ODAF) and Elections Integrity Watch (EIW), over the eligibility of PDP's governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, to contest the 2027 elections. The groups claim that Adebutu's name is missing from the PDP membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to ODAF and EIW, a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the PDP membership register obtained from INEC does not contain Adebutu's name. EIW stressed that the non-inclusion of Adebutu's name raises questions about the record on which the governorship flagbearer is being presented and whether any subsequent document containing his name was submitted to and accepted by INEC.
ODAF claimed to have confirmed the development through a CTC of the PDP register it obtained from INEC, for which it paid the prescribed fee and was issued a receipt. However, PDP's State Chairman, Abayomi Tella, described the allegations as laughable and a reprisal attack from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to counter its gubernatorial candidate, Solomon Adeola's indigeneity claim.
Tella alleged that Adeola's popularity had waned since questions about his indigeneity spread across the state, and that the APC allegedly sponsored the two groups to distract the people of the state with the allegation of Adebutu's missing name from the party's membership register submitted to INEC. He challenged the groups and APC to go to court if they are certain about their allegations.
The PDP chairman insisted that Adebutu's name is on the PDP membership register submitted to INEC, questioning the source of the groups' and APC's claims that his name was missing. Tella maintained that the people of Ogun State would stand by their votes, just like in the Osun State governorship election.
Tella also claimed that the APC's actions suggested that it was already apprehensive about the outcome of the poll. He stated that the PDP would not be distracted by any antics of the ruling party to cast doubt on the people of the state about Adebutu's eligibility to contest as governor in 2027 elections.
The dispute is seen as a significant development in the lead-up to the 2027 elections in Ogun State, with the PDP and APC engaging in a war of words over the eligibility of Adebutu and the credibility of the electoral process.
Key points
- The PDP in Ogun State has disputed allegations that Hon. Ladi Adebutu's name is missing from the party's membership register submitted to INEC.
- Two civil society groups, ODAF and EIW, had claimed that Adebutu's name was not in the register, sparking a controversy over his eligibility to contest the 2027 elections.
- The PDP chairman has challenged the groups and APC to go to court if they are certain about their allegations, and maintained that Adebutu's name is on the party's membership register.
