… as PDP chairman insisted Adebutu’s name was submitted to INEC

…APC behind Adebutu’s omitted name on INEC list – PDP alleges

… Accept impeding defeat, stop resorting to cheap blackmail – APC fires back

The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress in Ogun State have traded words over the omission of the the former’s gubernatorial candidate Ladi Adebutu from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list ahead the 2027 elections.

Recalled that a group a civil society group, Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum(ODAF) and Elections Integrity Watch(EIW) recently raised the alarm over the omission of Adebutu’s name from PDP’s register submitted to INEC.

However, PDP’s party Chairman, Hon. Abayomi Tella, in a swift reaction, described the development as laughable and a reprisal attack from the APC to counter its gubernatorial candidate, Solomon Adeola’s indigeneity claim that is he is not from Ogun State.

Tella, however insisted that Adebutu’s name is on PDP membership register submitted to INEC, questioning the source of the groups’and APC’s claim that Adebutu’s name was missing, adding that Ogun is not Lagos State and the electorates will stand by their votes just like Osun State Governship election.

“It is laughedable, you se I am not surprised but for the benefit of generality of Ogun State people. I will put certain record straight. You see, we know this people- the APC – we are dealing with, their propaganda machinery is first to none, and I think the people of Ogun State knows that long ago.” he said.

But, the development took another turn, when the name of Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Showunmi Kolapo was found missing on the INEC final list, a development that triggered war of words between the two parties in Ogun State.

The PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Arc. Kayode Adebayo, in a statement, alleged that the omission of Adebutu and his running mate’s names was because of undue pressure mounted on INEC by the APC, out of fear that the ruling party would lose to PDP in 2027 elections.

Adebayo urged the people of the state not to be distracted about the omission but remain steadfast and focus on voting out APC in the forthcoming elections, assuring that Adebutu’s name would be published by INEC soon and he would emerge victorious.

He insisted that no amount of APC’s manipulation, political witch-hunts or calculated distraction can change the mandate of the citizens for a better Ogun State, noting that Adebutu was duly registered as a member of the party with his party membership card printed, verified and submitted to INEC.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 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 (INEC) and he will emerge as the Governor of Ogun State in the 2027 General Elections.”

“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.”

“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.”

“While we urge the good people of Ogun not to be perturbed nor distracted from our focus of voting out the APC, we remain resolute, unfazed and unwaveringly confident that our candidate is marching straight to a decisive victory in the Ogun 2027 Governorship election.”

“No amount of desperate manipulation, political witch-hunts, or calculated distractions can alter the mandate of the people of Ogun State who are overwhelmingly eager for true leadership and positive change.”

“Once again, we call on all our teeming supporters, party faithful, and the general public to remain steadfast, vigilant, and unintimidated as the unstoppable movement to rescue Ogun State and bring RELIEF to our people continues to gain momentum.” Adebayo said.

In a swift reaction, the APC denied putting pressure on INEC to omit Adebutu’s name on the list, describing the allegation as “baseless and tissues of lies”, stressing that at no time did Adeola popularly known called Yayi met with INEC’s officials to remove Adebutu’s name on the list.

APC, in a press release by the Chairman of Madia and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun State, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said that PDP’s allegation was a testament of its impending electoral defeat by the ruling party.

Odunaro sargued that the PDP resorting to cheap blackmail, baseless rumours, and dramatic allegations showed that the main opposition party lacked credible campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that Adeola was not bothered by PDP’s allegation but was focused on his legislative duties and open consultations with the good people of the state in regards to the 2027 governship elections.

“We are not surprised by this latest hallucination from PDP. It has become their standard operating procedure tp cry wolf whenever they realize that the electorates have totally rejected them.”

“Senator Solomon Adeola’s track record of performance, transparency, and public service speaks for itself. He does not need any magic to win the hearts of Ogun voters, his numerous developmental projects and impactful representation are his credentials. ” he added.