The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has rejected allegations that it influenced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the final list of candidates for the 2027 election.
The ruling party accused the PDP of attempting to shift responsibility for the omission, insisting that the electoral commission should be allowed to carry out its duties in accordance with the law.
The dispute followed the PDP’s allegation that the APC was exerting pressure on INEC amid concerns about the opposition party’s chances in the forthcoming governorship election.
The PDP maintained that Adebutu remained a registered member of the party and had completed his digital membership registration within the prescribed period.
However, Kayode Odunaro, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun State, dismissed the allegations and urged the opposition party to take responsibility for its compliance with electoral requirements.
Odunaro argued that the omission could not reasonably be blamed on the APC or its governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, describing the PDP’s accusations as an attempt to divert attention from its own administrative shortcomings.
“APC and its candidates are contestants with other political parties’ candidates in the race towards 2027 under INEC as the umpire and regulatory body. How can anyone now attribute the failure of PDP to follow through on simple administrative procedures and adherence to rules of the game as pressure from APC on INEC leading to the non-listing of their candidate as a contestant,” he said.
He further claimed that candidates from other states had also been omitted from INEC’s list over what he described as similar failures to comply with electoral requirements.
The APC spokesman urged the PDP to stop blaming the ruling party and Adeola for its difficulties, describing the opposition party as nationally weakened.
APC Says It Is Ready For Any Cleared Candidate
Odunaro maintained that the APC and Adeola were prepared to compete against any candidate who met INEC’s requirements and was cleared to participate in the election.
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He argued, however, that campaigning against a party whose candidate was absent from the commission’s published list would amount to a waste of resources.
According to him, the APC’s campaign would focus on its record, capacity and manifesto rather than the difficulties confronting its political opponents.
“Our stand on this is that APC and its candidate for the governorship race is campaigning to win based on proven and verifiable performance, capacity, equity and justice with its 9-Point ITESIWAJU Manifesto. We do not sympathize with any party or candidate that run foul of the rules of the game in any way,” he stated.
To reinforce his argument, Odunaro compared the situation to a football team fielding an ineligible player, saying a team could suffer the consequences of failing to comply with established rules.
“We all know what happens to a team fielding an ineligible player in a game of even football. More like scoring an own goal to lose the match, whatever other score on the scoreboard,” he added.
The controversy over Adebutu’s omission has heightened political tensions ahead of the 2027 Ogun governorship election, with the PDP alleging political interference and the APC insisting that compliance with electoral rules remains the responsibility of each party and candidate.