Court Orders INEC to Reinstate Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate Ladi Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 election within 24 hours.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Friday, ruled that INEC acted unlawfully by removing Adebutu from its list of candidates without granting him an opportunity to defend himself.
The court held that the commission lacked the authority to independently disqualify a candidate duly nominated by a political party, describing its action as unconstitutional and contrary to the principles of fair hearing.
Justice Lifu maintained that the power to disqualify a candidate whose name had been submitted by a political party rests with the Federal High Court or a State High Court.
“The commission should have approached a competent court if it believed Adebutu was not qualified to contest the election,” the judge held.
The court also faulted INEC for excluding Adebutu despite his participation in the PDP governorship primary conducted on May 24, 2026, which it declared valid.
On the commission’s argument that Adebutu’s name was absent from the PDP membership register, Justice Lifu dismissed the evidence, pointing out that INEC’s witness, Mustapha Mohammed, admitted during cross-examination that he was not the official who received the flash drive containing the party’s membership register.
Consequently, the court ordered INEC to amend the list of candidates published on October 10, 2026, to include Adebutu’s name.
The ruling effectively directs the electoral commission to restore Adebutu’s candidacy ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
More details shortly…..
