The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has declared that the omission of his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027, governorship election will not stop his political activities or ongoing campaign across the state.
Adebutu, who described the development as a temporary distraction, insisted that he remained a duly registered and committed member of the PDP, challenging anyone questioning his membership to produce evidence that he had ever defected to another political party.
The former federal lawmaker spoke on Monday, November 2, 2026, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while receiving defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) into the PDP.
His remarks followed INEC’s decision to exclude him and his party from the final list of candidates for the forthcoming Ogun State governorship election.
The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published on the commission’s website, contains 13 governorship candidates, with no candidate listed for the PDP.
Adebutu’s omission followed controversies surrounding his membership of the opposition party, particularly allegations that his name was not included in the PDP membership register submitted to INEC ahead of the party’s governorship primary.
However, Adebutu rejected suggestions that he was not qualified to participate in the party’s nomination process, maintaining that he had remained a consistent member of the PDP for over two decades.
He questioned how his membership could suddenly become an issue after years of participating in the party’s political activities and contesting elections on its platform.
“I have been a candidate of PDP five consecutive times. For the last 20 years, every election cycle, I have been a PDP candidate. At what stage did I leave the party? Where is the proof that for one day, I even visited APC office?” he asked.
The PDP chieftain maintained that he was actively involved in organising and financing the party’s recent membership registration exercise in Ogun State, which he said recorded approximately 19,800 members.
According to him, his personal registration number was 1536, a development he cited as evidence of his participation in the exercise and continued membership of the party.
“For somebody that registered 20,000, whose number is 1536? So, I don’t know the magic. The story is up to Nigerians to decide,” Adebutu stated.
He insisted that he had satisfied the party membership requirements necessary for participation in the governorship primary and questioned the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from INEC’s list.
The former lawmaker also accused the APC-led government in Ogun State of attempting to weaken opposition parties and restrict political competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, political parties seeking public support should concentrate on presenting their achievements and development programmes rather than attempting to prevent their opponents from participating in elections.
“Should it be a party’s policy to hold down other parties? If you mean well and you have done well for your people, you should be able to place your scorecard on the table. You don’t disqualify opponents,” he said.
Adebutu further alleged that his supporters and other opposition members were facing harassment and restrictions in the course of their political activities across the state.
He claimed that opposition parties were being denied access to locations for the erection of campaign billboards, while some existing billboards had been removed or destroyed.
The allegations against the ruling party were not independently established in the account of the event.
Despite the controversy, Adebutu maintained that his political consultations and campaign activities would continue across Ogun State.
He disclosed that he had already visited 12 of the state’s 20 local government areas and 140 of its 236 political wards as part of his preparations for the governorship election.
According to him, the omission of his name from INEC’s list would not prevent him from continuing to engage party members, supporters and other residents.
Adebutu expressed confidence that the controversy surrounding his candidacy would eventually be resolved, insisting that he was duly registered as a member of the PDP.
“There is justice in Nigeria. I was duly registered. I orchestrated registration in this state. The precondition for holding primaries is that you must be attested to be a party member,” he declared.
He argued that the development was intended to slow down his political mobilisation and discourage supporters from participating actively in the electoral process.
“This is just to slow down the process and make the people disenfranchised and disenchanted. But never mind, it will end, and it will even be a blessing to us. We will not be distracted. We keep our eyes on the ball, and we shall win,” he added.
The controversy has also raised questions about the application of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly provisions concerning political party membership registers and the eligibility of candidates nominated through party primaries.
INEC had earlier explained that compliance with statutory requirements governing the submission of membership registers was necessary for political parties seeking to field candidates in the 2027 elections.
The Ogun State PDP has, however, maintained that Adebutu is a registered member of the party and that the necessary membership documentation was submitted in accordance with the law.
The party has rejected allegations concerning his membership status, insisting that its candidate should be included in the list for the governorship election.
Adebutu’s latest declaration comes amid continuing uncertainty over the PDP’s participation in the Ogun governorship contest, as the party seeks to resolve the dispute surrounding its candidate’s exclusion.
Although Adebutu has vowed to continue his political activities, his inclusion on the ballot remains subject to resolution of the nomination controversy through the applicable legal and electoral processes.
Post Title: “We Will Not Be Distracted” — Adebutu Vows To Continue Ogun Governorship Campaign Despite Exclusion From INEC’s 2027 Candidates List By Naijaonpoint.