Ogun State APC campaign council tells PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu to stop blaming the ruling party for his electoral omission.
The Ogun State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council has strongly advised Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu to stop pointing fingers at the ruling party. The warning follows the recent omission of his name from the final list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the upcoming state election.
In a statement released on Monday by Bolaji Adeniji, a member of its media committee, the campaign council insisted that neither the party nor Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, had any hand in the administrative hurdles facing the opposition candidate, according to information published by punchng.
The electoral commission shocked the opposition camp by leaving out Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, from the official lineup for the February 6, 2027 governorship race. Consequently, the PDP accused the ruling party and Adeola of colluding with the electoral umpire to truncate their political ambitions.
Ogun APC dismisses PDP allegations over election candidate list
Reacting swiftly to the accusations, the ruling party dismissed the claims as baseless political rhetoric. The council emphasized that the missing name is strictly a matter of electoral compliance rather than an opportunity for baseless political attacks against the ruling platform.
Furthermore, the campaign organization urged the opposition leadership to thoroughly establish the facts surrounding the administrative error. They noted that shifting blame onto political opponents will not resolve fundamental legal discrepancies within their nomination process.
Section 775 of Electoral Act guides party compliance
The ruling party highlighted that the central issue revolves around whether the opposition strictly adhered to membership registration requirements. Specifically, the debate centers on compliance with Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which governs party primaries and valid registers.
The council challenged the opposition to prove whether the candidate's name appeared on the relevant register submitted to the electoral commission. They stressed that the law evaluates compliance rather than political affiliations.
Adebutu advised to seek legal redress through proper channels
Concluding their address, the campaign representatives advised the aggrieved candidate to focus on the root causes of the administrative mishap. They encouraged him to utilize appropriate legal channels if he feels genuinely aggrieved by the commission's decision.
Every political organization must ultimately take full responsibility for its internal governance decisions. Seeking proper legal redress remains the best pathway for resolving disputes rather than engaging in public blame games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ladi Adebutu omitted from the INEC candidate list?
The Independent National Electoral Commission omitted Ladi Adebutu and his running mate from the final list due to unresolved issues concerning internal party compliance and membership registers under the Electoral Act.
Is Solomon Adeola involved in the PDP candidate omission?
No, the Ogun State APC Campaign Council firmly stated that neither Solomon Adeola, also known as Yayi, nor the ruling party had any involvement in the administrative processes of the Peoples Democratic Party.
What did the APC advise Ladi Adebutu to do regarding the omission?
The ruling party advised Ladi Adebutu to focus on internal party compliance, verify his documentation under Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act, and seek redress through proper legal channels.
When is the next Ogun State governorship election scheduled to hold?
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Ogun State governorship election to take place on February 6, 2027.
