The governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun, Ladi Adebutu, has said the omission of his name from the INEC’s final list is a temporary distraction that will not stop his political activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the electoral umpire had omitted Adebutu from the final list of candidates for the Feb. 6 2027 governorship election in Ogun.
The lists, signed by INEC’s secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published on the commission’s website, contained 13 candidates for the Ogun election, with no candidate representing the PDP.
Adebutu was left out amid growing doubts about his party membership, sparked by reports that his name did not appear on the PDP register submitted to INEC.
The PDP chieftain, while reacting to reports over his membership status, insisted that he remains a committed member of the PDP.
He spoke on Monday in Abeokuta, when he received defectors from the APC, noting that he has been a candidate of the party for over 20 years without leaving the party for a day.
He, however, challenged anyone to present proof that he ever visited another party office.
“I have been a candidate of the PDP five consecutive times. For the last 20 years, every election cycle, I have been a candidate of the PDP.
“At what stage did I leave the party? Where is the proof that for one day, I even visited APC office,” he said.
Adebutu said he was actively involved in organising and financing the recent registration exercise in the state, which recorded about 19,800 members, adding that his registration number is 1536.
“For somebody that registered almost 20,000, and whose number is 1536? So I don’t know the magic; the story is up to Nigerians to decide,” he said.
Despite the omission, Adebutu insisted he would not be distracted, noting that his ongoing consultations have already covered 12 of the 20 local government areas and 140 of the 236 wards.
“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.
“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 said.
Discussion0