2027 Election: INEC Explains Ladi Adebutu’s Exclusion From Ogun Governorship Race, Rejects Appeal
Ayo Marvel 
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the reason behind the exclusion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, popularly known as Ladi Adebutu, from the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
The commission attributed the exclusion to non-compliance with statutory provisions governing the submission of political party membership registers, following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to INEC, the decision is rooted in Section 77(5), (6) and (7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that political parties must submit their membership registers within the prescribed period and conduct primaries in accordance with the submitted register.
The commission maintained that failure to comply with these statutory requirements could render a political party ineligible to sponsor candidates for an election.
Adebutu’s exclusion has generated controversy within the Ogun State PDP, with party loyalists insisting that the former governorship candidate duly registered as a member of the party within the stipulated period.
However, INEC’s clarification indicated that the issue surrounding the submission and compliance of membership registers formed the basis for the affected candidates’ exclusion.
The appeal reportedly filed over the exclusion was also rejected, leaving Adebutu and his supporters with an uncertain political future ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The development has sparked reactions among political observers, raising questions about the PDP’s preparedness and compliance with electoral regulations as the race for Ogun State’s governorship gathers momentum.
For Adebutu’s supporters, the latest development represents a major setback, with many now wondering what political options remain for the PDP chieftain ahead of the crucial 2027 election.
INEC RELEASES PROVISIONAL LIST OF GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES AS PDP’S LADI ADEBUTU, AKA LADO, IS OMITTED
What hope remains for his supporters ahead of the 2027 governorship election?
About the Author
Ademola Busayo 
Emmanuel Femi Adedayo