IJEBU-ODE — The exclusion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list for the upcoming Ogun State governorship election has sparked widespread reactions, prompting his campaign team to clarify details surrounding his nomination.
The Director of Media for the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, Afolabi Orekoya, has firmly maintained that the governorship candidate fulfilled every legal and procedural requirement stipulated by both the electoral umpire and the party before the official deadlines.
The controversy arose following INEC’s weekend release of the final list of governorship candidates across 28 states ahead of the general elections, where Adebutu’s name was conspicuously absent despite the PDP having official candidates cleared for all other elective offices in Ogun State.
Speaking during a live appearance on FRONTLINE, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Orekoya explained that Adebutu completed his online membership registration with the PDP on April 17, well within the timeline prescribed by the electoral commission.
He emphasized that the registration exercise was completed weeks ahead of the May 10 deadline set for all registered political parties to update, finalize, and submit their comprehensive membership registers to INEC.
Orekoya reassured party faithful that Adebutu strictly adhered to the established guidelines, successfully generating an official PDP membership card that was subsequently attached to his final nomination forms submitted to the commission.
Addressing rumours regarding the candidate’s party standing, the campaign spokesperson noted that it was baffling for anyone to claim Adebutu was not a valid member, given that his generated membership identification details were duly processed.
To bolster his argument, Orekoya referenced earlier publications by the electoral umpire, pointing out that Adebutu’s name and specific party membership number had previously been displayed on official notice boards at INEC facilities.
He argued that the presence of Adebutu’s details on initial public displays served as clear evidence that his documentation was received, processed, and recognized at the preliminary stages of the electoral timeline.
Expressing concern over the sudden turn of events, Orekoya questioned the logic behind omitting only the governorship candidate while leaving all other PDP candidates in Ogun State fully cleared and listed for their respective contests.
He further criticized members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, accusing them of celebrating Adebutu’s omission prior to the official release of the list, which he suggested raised questions about how they obtained advance knowledge of the development.
Touching on the lingering national leadership disputes within the PDP, the media aide insisted that internal administrative friction had no legal bearing on the validity of Adebutu’s registration or nomination process.
He clarified that Adebutu’s camp actively participated in the registration and nomination exercises conducted under the party leadership structure that was formally recognized and dealt with by INEC at the time.
Orekoya appealed to PDP members, supporters, and the general public across Ogun State to remain calm, law-abiding, and peaceful while the party leadership works through established legal and administrative channels to rectify the omission.
He concluded by reassuring the electorate that the national executive body of the PDP has already initiated formal engagements with INEC leadership to ensure Adebutu’s name is restored to the official ballot paper.
