The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, from the final list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The controversy followed INEC’s publication of its final list for the February 6, 2027, Ogun governorship election, which contained candidates from 13 political parties but did not include Adebutu or his running mate. The commission’s published list did not state the reason for their omission. 

Reacting to the development, the Ogun PDP urged its members, supporters and residents of the state to remain calm, expressing confidence that Adebutu’s name would eventually be included. The party also insisted that the omission would not derail its preparations for the forthcoming election.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, the party maintained that Adebutu remained a bona fide PDP member and had not defected to another political party. It said he completed his digital membership registration within the stipulated period and that his membership card had been printed and verified.

The opposition party further claimed that the necessary membership documentation was submitted to INEC before the deadline. It argued that Adebutu had fulfilled the relevant registration requirements and should therefore be listed as its governorship candidate. These claims, however, have not independently established the reason for his omission.

The PDP alleged that the APC was seeking to frustrate its electoral ambitions because of concerns about the party’s prospects in Ogun State. It declared that “no amount of desperate manipulation, political witch-hunts, or calculated distractions” would change what it described as the people’s desire for different leadership. The party did not provide evidence in its statement to substantiate the allegation of pressure on INEC.

The commission’s explanation for the omission, alongside any response from the APC, remains important to resolving the dispute. Other reports have raised questions about the PDP membership register and the legal requirements governing party membership records, but the available information does not establish that the APC caused Adebutu’s exclusion. The development leaves the status of the PDP’s Ogun governorship ticket uncertain as preparations for the 2027 election continue.