Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, has vowed to challenge his exclusion from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adebutu made the declaration in a statement on Sunday, October 11, 2026, following the publication of INEC’s final list, which omitted his name and that of his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo.
The electoral commission published the list on Saturday, October 10, but did not state why the PDP candidates were excluded. The list contains 13 governorship candidates from different political parties, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) represented by Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, and Kudirat Balogun as his running mate.
Adebutu maintained that he remained a duly registered member of the PDP and had completed his digital membership registration within the stipulated period.
He said his membership card had been printed and verified, while the necessary documents had been submitted to INEC within the prescribed timeframe.
“I have not at any point left the PDP, and my commitment to our great party remains unwavering,” he said.
The former member of the House of Representatives also defended the process that produced him as the PDP’s governorship candidate, stating that INEC officials attended the party’s governorship primary as observers.
According to him, the relevant documents were presented for verification, certification and confirmation.
Adebutu questioned his exclusion, noting that other PDP candidates contesting seats in the Ogun State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate had been included in INEC’s published lists.
He also alleged that the ruling APC had exerted undue pressure on the electoral commission, although INEC has not publicly stated its reasons for omitting the PDP candidates.
The Ogun PDP had similarly accused the APC of influencing the development, insisting that Adebutu was properly registered and that his membership documents were submitted on time.
However, concerns had previously been raised by two groups, the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum and Elections Integrity Watch, over allegations that Adebutu’s name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
The controversy comes after the Supreme Court restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to rely on membership registers submitted to INEC within the statutory period for their primaries. The provisions also restrict parties that fail to submit the required registers from fielding candidates.
Adebutu said the PDP would pursue the matter through the appropriate channels, insisting that due process must be respected.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm, adding that the necessary steps were being taken to address the situation.
