Ogun 2027: Adebutu dismisses exclusion from INEC list

……receives over 1,000 APC defectors into PDP in Ogun

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has dismissed the omission of his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list of governorship candidates as a temporary distraction, insisting that the development would not derail his ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election.

Adebutu spoke on Monday while receiving more than 1,000 defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the PDP at the party’s State Secretariat in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The defectors, led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun William, were received by Adebutu alongside prominent PDP leaders, including the party’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo.

Addressing the gathering, Adebutu expressed confidence that the controversy surrounding his omission from INEC’s list would eventually be resolved, maintaining that he remained a bona fide member of the PDP.

He argued that his political history and participation in elections under the party’s platform over the past two decades were sufficient evidence of his loyalty, challenging those questioning his membership to produce evidence of when he allegedly defected.

“I have been the candidate of the PDP for the last 20 years, in 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, let alone joined the party?” he asked.

The PDP chieftain further disclosed that he played an active role in organising and financing the party’s recent membership registration exercise in Ogun State, which, according to him, recorded more than 19,800 members.

He said his registration number in the exercise was 1536, describing the development as further evidence of his continued membership of the opposition party.

Adebutu alleged that the controversy surrounding his name on the INEC list was an attempt to distract the opposition and disenfranchise voters, but assured party supporters that the PDP would remain focused on its political activities.

“The controversy surrounding my name on the INEC list is an attempt to distract the opposition and disenfranchise voters. But I assure our supporters that this party will not lose focus,” he said.

He also disclosed that the party had intensified its grassroots mobilisation across the state, revealing that its campaign team had visited 12 of Ogun State’s 20 local government areas and more than 140 of the 236 wards.

According to him, the mobilisation exercise would continue despite what he described as efforts to distract the party from its political objectives.

“We have visited 12 of the 20 local governments. Of the 236 wards, we have visited over 140. Tomorrow, we continue again because we know that the trick is to get us distracted. We will not be distracted. We will keep our eyes on the ball, and we shall win,” Adebutu declared.

Earlier, William, who led the defectors, said their decision to abandon the APC and join the PDP was informed by their dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s approach to governance and what he described as its failure to uphold democratic principles and deliver genuine development to Ogun State.

Recounting his political journey, William said he ventured into partisan politics in 2007, noting that although friends and associates had advised him to join the PDP at the time, he eventually aligned with the APC.

He, however, said his experience in the ruling party had convinced him that the platform no longer represented the democratic ideals and developmental aspirations he believed in.

William maintained that the defectors were determined to contribute to the political and socio-economic development of Ogun State through the PDP, expressing confidence in the party’s leadership.

He described the APC as no longer capable of accommodating the democratic aspirations of its members and the people of the state.

“We are seeking the progress of our dear Ogun State. My sincere appreciation goes first and foremost to our incoming governor, who has made this occasion possible, with the assistance of our deputy governor, our senator, the directors-general, party members, the party hierarchy and the state chairman,” William said.

The defection is expected to strengthen the PDP’s mobilisation efforts in Ogun State as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.