A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the name of Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, to its official list of candidates for the 2027 election within 24 hours.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order on Friday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the PDP, its governorship candidate and the party’s National Secretary over INEC’s decision to exclude Adebutu from the list of candidates published on October 10, 2026.
The court held that INEC acted unlawfully by removing Adebutu’s name, declaring that the electoral commission lacked the constitutional authority to independently disqualify a candidate duly nominated and submitted by a political party.
Justice Lifu ruled that only a court of competent jurisdiction, particularly the Federal High Court or a State High Court, could exercise the power to disqualify a candidate after the submission of the candidate’s name to INEC.
The judge also held that the commission violated Adebutu’s right to fair hearing by excluding him from the candidates’ list.
Before reaching its decision on the substantive suit, the court dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection seeking to terminate the case.
Justice Lifu held that the originating summons filed by the plaintiffs was competent, noting that it had been properly signed by a senior legal practitioner.
In examining the plaintiffs’ arguments, the court reviewed Adebutu’s political history in Ogun State, including his participation in the 2019 governorship election and emergence as the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 election.
The judge also noted that Adebutu participated in the PDP governorship primary election for the 2027 poll and that the party subsequently published his name as its candidate on August 29, 2026.
According to the court, there was no reported challenge to his emergence as the party’s candidate before INEC released its list on October 10, 2026, with Adebutu’s name missing.
The court further noted that neither Adebutu nor the PDP had withdrawn from the governorship race.
It heard that the party and its National Secretary subsequently wrote to INEC on October 14, 2026, demanding the correction of the list and restoration of Adebutu’s name.
However, INEC maintained that its decision was in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
Rejecting the commission’s position, Justice Lifu declared that INEC was legally bound to publish Adebutu’s name, having been duly nominated and submitted by the PDP.
The judge consequently ordered the commission to correct its October 10 candidates’ list and restore Adebutu’s name within 24 hours.
The court also declared that the 2027 Ogun State governorship election could not validly be concluded without the participation of the plaintiffs.
It further ruled that any election conducted in violation of the order would be unconstitutional and of no effect.
