The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has intensified his campaign mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election, receiving more than 1,000 defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) while insisting that his omission from the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) list of candidates would not derail his ambition.
The defectors were led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Segun William, who formally joined the PDP alongside other former APC members at the party's state secretariat in Abeokuta on Monday.
Adebutu, who was accompanied by his running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, and other party leaders, including the PDP Ogun Central senatorial candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo, said the controversy surrounding his name on INEC's list was a distraction that would not stop the opposition from pursuing its electoral campaign.
The PDP candidate and his running mate were missing from INEC's updated list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election in Ogun State as of October 31.
The commission had earlier disclosed that it upheld 66 petitions challenging the final lists of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates across the country, while rejecting 64 others.
The complaints reportedly bordered on the omission of political parties, the inclusion of candidates whose names were absent from their parties' membership registers and alleged multiple nominations.
INEC attributed the omissions to alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers. The commission also cited the Supreme Court's September 24, 2026, judgment affirming the constitutionality of the relevant provisions of the Act.
However, Adebutu maintained that he remained a bona fide PDP member, challenging those questioning his membership to provide evidence that he had ever left the party.
He said he had contested elections on the PDP platform for about two decades and had never defected to the APC.
"I have been the candidate of PDP for the last 20 years, every election cycle. My question is: at what stage did I leave or vacate the party? Where is the proof that for one day I have even visited the APC office?" he asked.
Adebutu also cited his participation in the party's recent membership registration exercise in Ogun, during which he said more than 19,800 members were registered.
He disclosed that his registration number was 1536, adding that he was actively involved in organising and financing the exercise.
The governorship candidate urged supporters not to allow the INEC controversy to disrupt the party's grassroots mobilisation, saying the PDP had already visited 12 of the state's 20 local government areas and more than 140 of its 236 wards.
"We know that the trick is to get us distracted. We will not be distracted. We keep our eyes on the ball," he said.
Earlier, William said the defectors left the APC because of what he described as the ruling party's failure to uphold democratic values and deliver meaningful development in Ogun State.
He said his political journey began in 2007 and that, although some of his associates initially encouraged him to join the PDP, he eventually aligned with the APC.
William, however, said his experience in the ruling party had convinced him to seek another political platform, adding that the defectors were committed to contributing to Ogun State's development through the PDP.
He said their decision was motivated by the desire for progress in the state and expressed appreciation to Adebutu and other PDP leaders for receiving them.
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