INEC reveals why Adebutu was excluded from Ogun governorship list

INEC has defended its exclusion of Ladi Adebutu from Ogun State’s 2027 governorship candidates list, claiming his name was missing from the PDP membership register, as the Federal High Court prepares to deliver judgment on November 13.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it excluded Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ogun State governorship candidate, from its final list for the 2027 election.

According to Nigerian Tribune, INEC disclosed in a counter-affidavit before the Federal High Court in Abuja that Adebutu’s name was missing from the party’s submitted membership register.

INEC official Mustapha Mohammed said searches identified deputy governorship candidate Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi but found no matching record for Adebutu.

“The ICT department found the name of the first plaintiff’s (PDP’s) candidate fielded as Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, in the register but could not find the name of the second plaintiff,” he said.

INEC also disputed Adebutu’s claimed membership serial number, saying it belonged to another individual.

However, Adebutu and the PDP maintain his membership is valid and are challenging his exclusion.

Justice Peter Lifu has fixed November 13 for judgment in the dispute.