The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Olusegun Adebutu, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of his name from the final list of governorship candidates.
Adebutu said he remained a registered member of the PDP and had completed the necessary registration and documentation within the stipulated period.
“I have not at any point left the PDP, and my commitment to our great party remains unwavering,” he said in a statement.
Adebutu explained that the governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate was conducted with INEC officials present as observers.
He added that relevant documents were submitted for verification, certification and confirmation.
The omission came amid questions over Adebutu’s name missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC.
Two civil society groups, Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum and Elections Integrity Watch, had raised concerns about his absence from the party register and demanded his disqualification .
Ogun PDP Alleges Pressure from APC
Adebutu said the circumstances surrounding the omission raised concerns, particularly as other party candidates contesting for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate appeared on INEC’s published lists .
He alleged that the Ogun State PDP had faced undue pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on INEC.
He also claimed the party had faced attempts to frustrate its campaign, including restrictions on billboards, attacks at campaign grounds and harassment of members.
“We will pursue this matter through the appropriate channels and insist that due process is respected,” Adebutu said.
He urged PDP members, supporters and residents of Ogun State to remain calm while the party takes necessary steps to address the omission. The APC has not responded to the allegations.
NDC Blames Technical Error for Kano Omission
Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has attributed the omission of its governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from INEC’s list to a technical error.
The party’s state chairman, Hussaini Isah Mairiga, said the names would be uploaded by Tuesday.
He said he had contacted party officials responsible for uploading the candidates’ names and was in touch with INEC officials at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
*“By Tuesday, Insha Allah, everything will be okay. People will see our candidate’s name,”* he said .
Mairiga explained that the omission was not limited to Kano State. He claimed candidates of the party in some other states had also been affected, citing Kaduna State where the party’s candidates were reportedly omitted.
He added that a candidate in Katsina State had initially appeared as a placeholder before the name was updated.
17 Parties Listed as INEC Remains Silent
INEC’s list, published on its official website on Saturday evening, contained the names of governorship candidates and their running mates from 17 political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections .
The list included Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his running mate, Murtala Sule Garo, as candidates of the APC. Abacha Muhammad Sani and Kibiya Yusuf Ado were listed for the PDP.
Other parties represented included the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
When contacted for clarification on the NDC candidates’ omission, the state INEC Head of Department for Election and Party Monitoring, Hauwa, referred inquiries to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
She said the state office had forwarded the list of all aspirants to the headquarters.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had yet to provide further clarification on the omission. The NDC maintained that the affected candidates’ names would be uploaded by Tuesday.
