By Seun Oloketuyi
The omission of Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election may have raised concerns within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but there are reasons the party remains confident that its candidate can still make the list.
At the centre of the dispute is Adebutu’s membership registration. His camp maintains that he completed the PDP’s digital registration, had his membership card printed and verified, and fulfilled the necessary requirements within the stipulated period. The Ogun PDP has also insisted that his name was included in the membership register submitted to INEC.
If the party can back these claims with verifiable records, it will have a strong basis to challenge the omission and ask the commission to reconsider its decision.
Another point in Adebutu’s favour is that INEC officials monitored the PDP governorship primary held on September 27, 2026, where he emerged as the party’s candidate. While monitoring the primary does not automatically settle the separate membership register issue, it forms part of the process that produced the PDP ticket.
INEC has explained that the omission of affected candidates is linked to compliance with membership register requirements under the Electoral Act 2026. The Supreme Court upheld the relevant provisions in its September 24 judgment. The law must be respected, but the facts surrounding each disputed case must also be properly examined.
The PDP has an opportunity to notify INEC of the omission and present supporting documents before the October 24, 2026 deadline. This gives the party a chance to demonstrate that it complied with the requirements and that Adebutu’s exclusion should be reviewed.
For Adebutu, the key is proving that his registration and the party’s submission of its membership register met the law. If the documents support the PDP’s position, INEC would have grounds to reconsider the omission in accordance with the law.
The issue also matters to Ogun voters, who deserve a fair opportunity to choose among candidates who meet the electoral requirements. Adebutu’s supporters believe he should have the opportunity to contest if he has fulfilled the conditions set by law.
Ultimately, political reactions will not decide this matter; the evidence will. The PDP must present its records, and INEC must assess them fairly.
Adebutu’s return to the list is not yet confirmed, but the case is far from over. If the PDP can prove that the requirements were met and his omission was unjustified, there is a strong basis for his name to be restored to INEC’s list.
–Oloketuyi, author of ‘How To Win Elections in Nigeria’, writes from Lagos
