INEC excludes Adebutu, Vice President from Ogun governorship election *Full list

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

Adebutu and his running mate were absent from the list released by the electoral commission, raising doubts over the PDP’s participation in the upcoming governorship elections.

INEC has listed candidates from 13 political parties for the elections, but the reasons for the exclusion of Adebutu and his running mate were not immediately known at the time of filing this report.

The final list was signed by the commission’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The omission comes amid preparations by political parties for the 2027 general elections, with INEC releasing the names of candidates authorized to contest the Ogun State governorship election.

The ADC candidate makes the final list

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Lawal Jimi Adebisi, and his deputy, Olutayo Florence Funlola Folake, were included in the final list following a court order.

Their inclusion highlights the role of judicial decisions in determining the eligibility and participation of candidates in upcoming elections.

The INEC publication provides the list of candidates cleared to contest the governorship, although the commission did not immediately explain the circumstances surrounding the absence of the PDP candidates.

Other candidates have obtained approval for the elections

Other candidates in the final list include Okewole Shuaib Olaniyi of Party A, Awofala Awolola Awoniyi of Action Alliance (AA), Anifowose Johncrownfit Kayode of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Adeola Solomon Olamilekan of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also on the list are Babajide Rotimi Mathew of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Layi Labode Halima of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Adenuga Adekunle Dreher of the Boot Party (BP), Dasaolu Oluwaseyi Olamilekan of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Akinbola Hammed Rotham of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The exclusion of Adebutu and his running mate leaves questions about the PDP’s position in the Ogun governorship race, awaiting further clarification from INEC or the party.

The commission did not provide an immediate explanation for their omission in the information available at the time of the report.