The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has omitted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate from its final list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The final list, released on Saturday, October 10, and signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 13 governorship candidates from 13 political parties for the election scheduled for February 6, 2027.

However, Adebutu and his deputy, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, were conspicuously missing from the document.

INEC did not give any official reason for the omission as at press time.

The list includes Solomon Adeola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and his running mate, Kudirat Balogun, as well as Jimi Lawal of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, whose inclusion was said to be by court order.

Other parties on the list are Accord, Action Alliance, ADP, APM, APP, Boot Party, NDP, NNPP, NRM, SDP and YPP.

Adebutu’s absence comes amid reports that his name was allegedly missing from the PDP membership register submitted to INEC, a claim the Ogun PDP has since denied, insisting it complied with all legal requirements.

In a similar development, INEC also excluded former Minister, Isa Ali Pantami, the PDP candidate in Gombe State, from its final list for the state, which has 16 candidates.

Source: TVC News / Vanguard / Punch NG