Court orders INEC to reinstate Adebutu as Ogun PDP governorship candidate
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate the name of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, popularly known as Ladi Adebutu, on the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order on Friday, directing INEC to include and publish Adebutu’s name within 24 hours.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the PDP and Adebutu after the commission omitted his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that INEC had no power to independently remove or disqualify a candidate validly nominated by a political party without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
The judge maintained that the power to determine the validity of a candidate’s nomination rests with the Federal High Court or a State High Court, not the electoral commission.
He consequently declared INEC’s action unconstitutional, unlawful and of no effect, adding that Adebutu’s right to fair hearing had been breached.
The dispute started after INEC published its final list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election without Adebutu’s name.
The PDP and its candidate subsequently approached the court on October 22, 2026, seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise Adebutu as the party’s governorship candidate.
During the proceedings, INEC argued that Adebutu’s name was missing from the membership register submitted by the PDP.
However, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, told the court that Adebutu’s name was included in the electronic list of candidates submitted to the commission through a flash drive.
The disagreement over the documents submitted by the party and the electoral commission became a major issue in the case before Justice Lifu delivered judgment in favour of the PDP and its candidate.
With the ruling, INEC is expected to publish Adebutu’s name within the 24 hours stipulated by the court.
The judgment is a significant development in the political activities ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, as it restores Adebutu’s position as the PDP candidate, subject to any further legal developments.
Attention will now turn to INEC’s compliance with the court order as political parties continue preparations for the forthcoming election.
