Adebutu Says INEC’s Omission of His Name Is Temporary Distraction

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, yesterday described the exclusion of his name from the Independent National Electoral ComAƊmission (INEC) list of governorship contestants as a temporary distraction.

Adebutu emphatically insisted that the development would not derail his ambition to contest the forthcoming 2027 governorship election.

The embattled governorship candidate made this known while receiving more than 1,000 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the PDP at a reception held at the party’s state secretariat along IBB Boulevard Road in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun William, the APC defectors were received by Adebutu alongside other prominent PDP leaders, including the party’s senatorial candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo.

Addressing the gathering, Adebutu expressed confidence that the controversy surrounding his omission from INEC’s list would eventually be resolved, stressing that he remained a bona fide member of the PDP.

He argued that his political history and participation in elections under the party’s platform over the past two decades were sufficient evidence of his loyalty. He challenged those questioning his membership to provide evidence of when he allegedly defected.

“I have been the candidate of the PDP for the last 20 years, in every election cycle. My question is: at what stage did I leave or vacate the party? Where is the proof that, for one day, I have even visited the APC office, let alone joined the party?” he asked.

Adebutu disclosed that he played an active role in organising and financing the party’s recent membership registration exercise in the state, which he said recorded more than 19,800 members.
He further disclosed that his registration number during the exercise was 1,536, describing it as additional evidence of his continued membership of the opposition party.

Adebutu alleged that the controversy surrounding his name on INEC’s list was an attempt to distract the opposition and disenfranchise voters. However, he assured party supporters that the PDP would remain focused on its political activities.

“The controversy surrounding my name on the INEC list is an attempt to distract the opposition and disenfranchise voters. But I assure our supporters that this party will not lose focus,” he said.

He also disclosed that the party had intensified its grassroots mobilisation across the state, revealing that its campaign team had visited 12 of Ogun State’s 20 local government areas and more than 140 of the 236 wards.

According to him, the mobilisation exercise would continue despite what he described as efforts to distract the party from its political objectives.

“We have visited 12 of the 20 local governments. Of the 236 wards, we have visited over 140. Tomorrow, we continue again because we know that the trick is to get us distracted. We will not be distracted. We will keep our eyes on the ball, and we shall win,” Adebutu declared.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the defectors, William, said their decision to leave the APC and join the PDP was informed by their dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s approach to governance and what he described as its failure to uphold democratic principles and deliver genuine development to Ogun State.

Recounting his political journey, William said he ventured into partisan politics in 2007, noting that although friends and associates had advised him to join the PDP at the time, he eventually aligned with the APC.

He, however, said his experience in the ruling party had convinced him that the platform no longer represented the democratic ideals and developmental aspirations in which he believed.

William maintained that the defectors were determined to contribute to the political and socio-economic development of Ogun State through the PDP, expressing confidence in the party’s leadership.

He described the APC as no longer capable of accommodating the democratic aspirations of its members and the people of the state.

“We are seeking the progress of our dear Ogun State. My sincere appreciation goes first and foremost to our incoming governor, who has made this occasion possible, with the assistance of our deputy governor, our senator, the directors-general, party members, the party hierarchy and the state chairman,” William said.