The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, fulfilled all the requirements for the 2027 governorship election, his campaign organisation has insisted, following his omission from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates.
Afolabi Orekoya, Director of Media of the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, said the PDP candidate registered as a party member within the period stipulated by INEC and obtained a membership card, which was attached to the form submitted to the electoral commission.
Speaking on FRONTLINE, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Monday, October 12, Orekoya maintained that Adebutu satisfied the membership registration requirement ahead of the February 6, 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
According to him, Adebutu completed his online registration on April 17, 2026, before the May 10 deadline set for political parties to update and submit their membership registers to INEC.
“Hon Ladiipo Adebutu registered on the online registration of the PDP on April 17th as a member of the PDP, which was also within the window given by INEC before the submission in May,” Orekoya said.
He added that Adebutu received a membership identification card after completing the process and that the document was attached to the candidate’s submission to INEC.
Orekoya also cited an earlier publication by the electoral commission, claiming that Adebutu’s name and membership number appeared on the list displayed by INEC.
“The publication that INEC made pasted not only his name but wrote his membership numbers on it,” he said.
The campaign organisation’s media director questioned why Adebutu’s name was subsequently missing from the final list, particularly as the Ogun State PDP had candidates listed for other elective positions.
“You see, we have no candidate for no positions; Ogun PDP has candidate for all positions. It is only Ladi Adebutu that they can’t find his name on the list,” he said.
INEC released the final lists of governorship candidates for 28 states on Saturday, ahead of the 2027 elections. Adebutu’s reported absence from the Ogun State list has raised questions about his participation in the race.
Orekoya also questioned the conduct of some All Progressives Congress (APC) members who, he alleged, had celebrated Adebutu’s absence before the publication of the final list.
“A week ago, they went about jubilating that they don’t have an opponent. How did they know?” he asked.
Addressing the PDP’s internal leadership dispute, Orekoya argued that the crisis did not invalidate Adebutu’s membership registration.
He said INEC had been dealing with a leadership structure within the PDP associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which he described as the leadership recognised by the commission.
According to him, Adebutu’s camp participated in the membership registration exercise conducted under that leadership structure.
“The internal party crisis then has nothing to do with the situation on ground,” Orekoya said, adding that his camp had participated fully in the registration process.
He did not provide an explanation for why Adebutu’s name was omitted from the final list, while the campaign organisation’s claims about the registration and earlier INEC publication were not independently established by his remarks.
Orekoya urged PDP supporters and residents of Ogun State to remain calm while the party seeks a resolution with the electoral commission.
“Our people and good people of Ogun State should stay calm,” he said.
He also disclosed that the PDP’s national leadership was already engaging INEC over the omission.
“The party at the national level is already in touch with INEC,” he added.
