INEC Confirms Ladi Adebutu Not on PDP Membership List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) explained in court why Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party's Ogun State governorship candidate, was omitted from its final list of candidates. In a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, INEC stated that Adebutu's name was not included in the membership register submitted by the PDP.

This was in response to a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2573/2026, where the PDP and Adebutu sought to compel INEC to recognize him as the party's candidate for the February 6, 2027, election. Mustapha Mohammed, a Chief Programme Analyst in INEC's ICT Department, testified that while Adebutu's running mate, Kolapo Oyeyemi, was listed, Adebutu's name was not found despite searching various name variations.

Mohammed also stated that the membership registration number claimed by Adebutu belonged to another individual. Justice Peter Lifu has scheduled a judgment for Friday after the final addresses were submitted.

Labour Party chieftain Abayomi Arabambi accused Adebutu of perjury regarding his membership claim.