The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 election, Oladipupo Adebutu, has said that the omission of his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list of governorship candidates will not stop him from contesting the election.
Adebutu spoke on Sunday while receiving more than 1,000 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the PDP. The event took place at the party’s state secretariat along IBB Boulevard Road in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The defectors were led by former House of Representatives member Segun William. Other PDP leaders at the event included the party’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate, Professor Iyabo Obasanjo.
Speaking to the gathering, Adebutu expressed confidence that the issue surrounding his name on INEC’s list would be resolved. He insisted that he remained a genuine member of the PDP.
He said he had contested elections under the party for about 20 years and challenged anyone questioning his membership to provide evidence that he had left the party.
“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.
Adebutu also said he played an active role in organising and funding the PDP’s recent membership registration exercise in Ogun State, which recorded more than 19,800 members.
He disclosed that his registration number during the exercise was 1,536, describing it as further proof that he remained a member of the party.
The PDP candidate alleged that the controversy over his name on INEC’s list was intended to distract the opposition and prevent voters from exercising their rights. However, he assured supporters that the party would not lose focus.
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