THE ADEBUTU QUESTION: CAN THE PDP CANDIDATE STILL MAKE THE 2027 BALLOT ?

The omission of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, from INEC’s final list for the February 6, 2027 election did not happen in a vacuum.

It was preceded by a formal petition from Comrade Abayomi Arabambi and the Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Prof. Awofala Awolola, challenging Adebutu’s eligibility on the grounds that his name was absent from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.

But while the petition triggered INEC’s decision, it does not necessarily mean all hope is lost for Adebutu.

The Electoral Act 2026 provides a formal mechanism for political parties to address omissions, and the PDP still has a window to act.

HOW IT BEGAN: THE PETITION

The petition, dated September 30, 2026, was addressed to the INEC chairman at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja . It was filed through legal representatives identified as Anderson Asemota (Principal Partner), Chief S. T. Yenge, Esq., and Eziefule Chidiebere Stanley, Esq., alongside seven other lawyers from the law firm of NEPLUS ULTRA ATTORNEYS.

According to Arabambi, who confirmed the petition to The Daily Crucible by telephone, the petition challenged Adebutu’s eligibility on the grounds that his name was allegedly absent from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC in support of his nomination.

The petitioners urged INEC to expunge the names of Adebutu and his running mate from the list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election. They also asked the commission to review the documents submitted by the PDP in support of Adebutu’s nomination and sponsorship, particularly the party’s membership register, to determine whether his name appeared on the register submitted to the electoral body.

Arabambi commended the commission’s decision, saying it demonstrated a commitment to impartiality, adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act .

INEC’S DECISION: THE PUBLICATION

INEC, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, featuring 13 candidates. The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, did not include Adebutu and his running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo.

The commission’s published final list did not state the reason for the omission.

However, the development followed questions over whether Adebutu’s name appeared on the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.

INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, had previously stated that political parties that failed to comply with the membership-register requirements would not be allowed to field affected candidates or substitute them.

The APC had also written to INEC, demanding the enforcement of a Supreme Court judgment affirming the mandatory nature of the statutory requirements governing membership registers and the consequences of non-compliance.

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The judgment, delivered on September 24, 2026, in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, established that a political party that fails to submit its digital membership register within the prescribed period may be precluded from fielding candidates in the general election.

THE PDP’S REACTION: “UNDUE PRESSURE”

The Ogun PDP, in its reaction, blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the exclusion.

“The public should be informed that the omission of our Candidate’s name in the INEC’s list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election to our party,” the statement signed by Publicity Secretary Arc. Kayode Adebayo said.

The party maintained that Adebutu had never left the PDP and had fully complied with the party’s digital membership registration process.

“We state emphatically that our candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, who has never left the Peoples Democratic Party at any time, duly registered as a member of the party within the designated period of the digital registration, with his party membership card printed, verified and submitted to INEC at the stipulated time,” the statement said.

The PDP expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved and Adebutu would participate in the election.

“The Peoples Democratic Party enjoins the good people of Ogun State to be calm and rest assured that our governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu’s name will be published by the Independent National Electoral Commission and he will emerge as the Governor of Ogun State in the 2027 General Elections,” it said.

THE LEGAL WINDOW: SECTION 32(2)

Under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, a registered political party that discovers its candidate’s name is missing from INEC’s published list must notify the commission in writing within 14 days of publication.

The notification must be signed by the party’s national chairman and secretary and supported by an affidavit.

This provision establishes a formal process for notifying INEC about an omitted candidate. As of the time of the PDP’s statement, the party had not publicly indicated whether it had formally notified INEC of the omission or whether it intended to challenge the published list.

The PDP’s claim that Adebutu “duly registered” and that his membership card was “printed, verified and submitted to INEC at the stipulated time” is the foundation on which any Section 32(2) notification would rest.

If the party can substantiate that claim with an affidavit signed by its national chairman and secretary, INEC would be obligated to review the submission.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The PDP has 14 days from the publication of the list to formally notify INEC of the omission, if it has not already done so.

If the party files the notification under Section 32(2), INEC will review the submission and determine whether to restore Adebutu’s name to the list. If the party does not file, or if INEC rejects the notification, Adebutu’s exclusion from the 2027 governorship race will stand.

The Ogun PDP has projected confidence, urging its supporters to remain calm and insisting that Adebutu “will be published by the Independent National Electoral Commission and will emerge as the Governor of Ogun State in the 2027 General Elections”.

But the omission raises serious questions about the party’s participation in the 2027 governorship election, and about whether the legal and administrative processes will ultimately restore Adebutu to the ballot or confirm his exclusion.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Adebutu’s omission is not merely a legal technicality. It is a political moment with significant implications.

Adebutu has pursued the Ogun governorship for over a decade. His name recognition, rooted in his father’s philanthropy and his own political career, is formidable.

He contested the 2023 governorship election and came second. His supporters across the 20 local government areas of the state are numerous.

The PDP’s allegation of APC pressure adds a layer of political tension to what is already a high-stakes contest. The APC has not responded to the allegation .

For now, the PDP’s path forward is clear: use the 14-day window, file the notification, and hope INEC accepts the evidence.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the Ogun PDP has urged calm and expressed confidence in Adebutu’s eventual inclusion. Whether that confidence is justified will depend on the next steps taken by the party and the commission.