The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate from its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
Politics Nigeria reports that the commission listed 13 candidates for the election in Ogun State, but Adebutu and his deputy were absent from the published list. The reasons for the omission could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
Signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the final list includes candidates from 13 political parties. It also indicates that the candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lawal Jimi Adebisi and his deputy, Olutayo Florence Funlola Folake, were included by court order.
The candidates listed for the Ogun governorship election are Okewole Shuaib Olaniyi of Party A; Awofala Awolola Awoniyi of the Action Alliance (AA); Lawal Jimi Adebisi of the ADC; Anifowose Johncrownfit Kayode of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); and Adeola Solomon Olamilekan of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others 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 remaining candidates are Fayoyin Olujobi Ezekiel of the National Rescue Movement (NRM); Ola Willams Adeyinka Penuel of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); and Johnson Cyrus Oluwaseun of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The exclusion comes as political parties prepare for the February 6, 2027, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
Section 32(1) of the 2026 Electoral Act requires INEC to publish the names and addresses of nominated candidates at least 60 days before an election.
Section 32(2) also provides a procedure for a registered political party to notify the commission if its candidate’s name is missing from the published list. Such notification must be made in writing, signed by the party’s national chairman and secretary, and supported by an affidavit within 14 days of publication.
The provisions outline a process through which a political party can formally raise concerns over the omission of its candidate.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, had earlier announced that 21 of Nigeria’s 22 registered political parties nominated 936 governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the 28 states holding governorship elections in 2027. The parties also nominated 9,692 candidates for State Houses of Assembly elections.
Ogun State is among the states scheduled to elect governors on February 6, 2027.
Before the release of the final list, Adebutu had continued his political engagements across Ogun State ahead of the election.
On Tuesday, the PDP candidate visited the Oloje traditionalist community in Abeokuta, where he sought the prayers and support of traditionalists and elders in Egbaland.
Adebutu, who was accompanied by members of his political team, promised that his administration would prioritise accountability, peace and prudent management of public resources if elected governor.
He also pledged to pursue grassroots development and ensure that funds allocated to local governments were released to the councils for effective administration and rural development.
Describing himself as a devoted Christian, Adebutu said his religious beliefs did not prevent him from recognising the contributions of traditional institutions and practitioners to peace, unity and social harmony.
Also speaking at the gathering, the PDP House of Representatives candidate, Toyin Amuzu, urged residents to vote for the party at all levels.
Amuzu cited the provision of a transformer to the community as an intervention facilitated by PDP members and criticised what he described as inadequate attention to electricity challenges in parts of Abeokuta.
He also cautioned voters against accepting money from politicians during elections, arguing that such payments could leave residents to endure hardship for another four years.
