Ogun PDP rejects challenge to Adebutu’s 2027 eligibility

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected claims challenging the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu. The party was responding to allegations by the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum, which questioned Adebutu’s membership status and said he was absent from the PDP’s official membership register. In a statement on Tuesday, PDP state publicity secretary Kayode Adebayo said Adebutu remained a registered and financially compliant party member and a recognised leader in Ogun State.

He also said the party had complied with legal requirements for registering members and submitting its register to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The PDP described the allegations as a sponsored smear campaign allegedly driven by the All Progressives Congress and its proxies. The party said the claims were intended to create confusion among voters and distract attention from issues it said could affect the APC ahead of the 2027 election.

The party also raised questions about the political base of the APC candidate, Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi. It said Adeola’s move from Lagos State to Ogun State after several years representing Lagos in the National Assembly had prompted questions about his indigeneship. The PDP further alleged that federal constituency projects intended for other states had been diverted to Ogun State and used to create an impression of increased development.

The material provided contains no response from the APC or Adeola to those claims. On legal arguments attributed to ODAF, the PDP said eligibility was governed by the Constitution and Electoral Act rather than statements from political interest groups. It urged INEC to disregard what it called pressure from political proxies and said Adebutu’s nomination remained valid.