Ogun 2027: LP, AA Threaten INEC Lawsuit Over PDP Register, Adebutu

 

Ogun 2027: LP, AA Threaten INEC Lawsuit Over PDP Register, Adebutu

By Akin Alade

 

A fresh legal controversy is threatening to deepen the political uncertainty surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Ogun State, following allegations of possible manipulation of the party’s membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The controversy has taken another dimension as the National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in the South-West, Dr. Arabambi Abayomi, and the Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Professor Awofala Awoniyi Awolola, threatened legal action against INEC over any unlawful alteration of the PDP membership records.

 

The two politicians have formally petitioned the electoral commission, demanding the preservation of the original membership register and a thorough investigation into reports that an affidavit may have been prepared to explain the omission of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu’s name from the document submitted ahead of the party’s governorship primary.

 

Their intervention introduces another dimension to the ongoing controversy over Adebutu’s eligibility and the PDP’s participation in the forthcoming governorship election, particularly after the party was excluded from the final list of candidates earlier published by INEC.

 

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, the petitioners expressed concern over information suggesting that efforts might be underway to secure the inclusion of Adebutu’s name through a retrospective correction of the party’s membership register.

 

They alleged that the PDP conducted its Ogun State governorship primary in Abeokuta on May 24, 2026, despite Adebutu’s name reportedly being absent from the membership register submitted to INEC before the exercise.

 

According to the politicians, a Certified True Copy of the register issued by INEC on July 20, 2026, allegedly confirmed the omission, raising questions about compliance with the statutory provisions governing political party membership and candidate nomination.

 

However, both petitioners acknowledged that they had not independently verified the existence or contents of the alleged affidavit. They therefore urged INEC to establish whether such a document had been submitted and determine its legal implications.

 

The LP chieftain and AA governorship candidate argued that an affidavit explaining an administrative omission should not automatically provide legal justification for retrospectively changing a statutory membership register.

 

They cited Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 and a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in INEC versus Zenith Labour Party, insisting that political parties must comply with the legal requirements governing membership registers and nomination processes.

 

The petitioners consequently demanded that INEC disclose whether the alleged affidavit exists, identify the official who received it, establish the date of submission and explain the purpose for which it was presented.

 

They further requested an investigation into any credible evidence suggesting unlawful interference with the commission’s official records.

 

Arabambi and Awolola warned that any administrative decision founded on an unlawful substitution or retrospective alteration of the original register would be challenged before a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

The latest development has heightened political tension in Ogun State, where the PDP’s exclusion from INEC’s published governorship candidate list has continued to generate competing interpretations among political stakeholders.

 

INEC had earlier explained that its decisions concerning affected political parties followed the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly provisions relating to the submission of membership registers before party primaries.

 

The commission also provided a statutory window for political parties seeking corrections to the published candidates’ list, with October 24, 2026, identified as the deadline for notifying the electoral body of alleged wrongful omissions.

 

Meanwhile, Adebutu has consistently maintained that he remains a duly registered PDP member who completed the required digital registration process and submitted his documentation within the stipulated period.

 

The former House of Representatives member has also expressed confidence that the controversy surrounding his omission would be resolved through lawful procedures, insisting that his governorship ambition remains legitimate.

 

In another development, former Ogun State Commissioner for Health and PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to avoid a competitive governorship contest.

 

Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, argued that the circumstances surrounding Adebutu’s omission raised serious concerns about electoral fairness and the independence of democratic institutions.

 

Speaking during an interview on an Abeokuta-based podcast, the former senator questioned why Adebutu’s name was excluded when other PDP candidates had reportedly undergone similar nomination procedures.

 

She expressed confidence that the PDP governorship candidate would eventually overcome the controversy and participate in the election.

 

Her allegations against the APC, however, remain political claims and do not establish that the ruling party influenced INEC’s decision.

 

Political analysts believe the developing dispute could become a significant legal test of the relationship between political party membership records, candidate eligibility and the powers of INEC to recognise nominations.

 

Beyond the immediate political interests of the PDP and its opponents, the controversy raises broader questions about transparency, documentary integrity and the consistent application of electoral laws.

 

For Ogun State voters, the unfolding situation has introduced fresh uncertainty into the governorship contest, with political parties intensifying preparations while the status of the PDP’s nomination remains disputed.

 

The ultimate outcome may depend on the authenticity of the original membership register, the legal status of any subsequent documentation, INEC’s official records and any binding judicial decision arising from the controversy.

 

As political activities gather momentum ahead of February 2027, attention will remain focused on whether the electoral commission can resolve the competing claims transparently and whether the threatened legal challenge will eventually proceed to court.

 

For now, the alleged alteration remains unproven, and the threatened lawsuit does not amount to a judicial finding of wrongdoing against INEC or the PDP.