A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and leader of Olorunsogo community, Ilara, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Topa Peter, has denied reports identifying him as a governorship aspirant under the PDP, alleging that his name was used without his knowledge or consent.
Recall that a lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, according to media reports, gave the Independent National Electoral Commission 48 hours to explain the omission of Peter’s name, whom he described as his client, from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
Asemota also demanded the publication of Peter’s name as the party’s duly nominated candidate, threatening legal action if the commission failed to address the matter.
The demand, contained in a letter dated October 14, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman, followed the commission’s publication of the final list of governorship candidates on October 10, which excluded the name of the PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu.
Peter, however, said in a statement made available to our correspondent on Saturday that he was shocked to discover that newspaper reports identified him as a governorship aspirant despite having no intention of contesting the election.
He alleged that the development followed a meeting with the All Progressives Congress chairman in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Ramoni Adebolu, and some other APC chieftains, who approached him with an unspecified political offer.
According to him, the meeting was held in his hometown, Ilara, where the politicians informed him that the position they intended to offer him was under the PDP but failed to disclose its exact nature.
He said, “I was shocked and deeply surprised to discover that my name had appeared in newspaper publications as a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an aspiration I know absolutely nothing about.
“The events leading to this development began when the APC Chairman in Imeko-Afon Local Government, Mr Ramoni Adebolu, alongside some other APC chieftains, contacted me to say they had a position they wanted to offer me.
“We met in my hometown, Ilara, and they informed me that the position was under the PDP but did not explain its exact nature. But I told them there and then that I was not interested because such could only come from my party, the PDP.
“To my greatest surprise, the next thing I saw was a newspaper publication listing me as a governorship aspirant under the PDP. Upon discovering the publications mentioning my name, I immediately contacted Mr Ramoni Adebolu, and he told me to be calm.”
He said he also quickly reached out to PDP leaders to explain the situation and make it clear that he had no knowledge of, or involvement in the purported governorship aspiration.
He added, “I wish to emphasise here, again, that I never purchased a governorship nomination form, signed any document expressing an intention to contest the governorship election, or authorised anyone to act on my behalf in this regard.
“I have been a loyal member of the PDP since 1998, the year the party was formed, and I have never defected to another political party. My commitment to the party has remained consistent throughout the years.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I did not collect any money from the individuals mentioned in this statement. I am also deeply concerned by reports that a petition has been written in my name without my knowledge or authorisation.
“I have never spoken with or met the lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, alleged to have written the petition on my behalf. I therefore call for a thorough investigation into how my name came to be used in this manner and how documents were submitted in my name without my knowledge.
“I am appealing to Nigerians, relevant authorities, security agencies, and all well-meaning individuals to come to my aid and help ensure the safety of my life and every member of my family.”
When contacted for his reaction, the publicity secretary of the ruling party in the state, Femi Nuberu, said he could only speak for the party and not an individual.
Nuberu said, “My office speaks for the party and on the decision of the party. Allegations against members of the party should be directed to the individuals concerned.
“The named person in the conference should be reached for a response. As a party, we are preoccupied with the mobilisation for ITESIWAJU mantras.”
Adebolu, in his reaction, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday, denied knowing anything about the newspaper publication which presented Peter as the PDP governorship candidate for Ogun State.
He explained, “As the Chairman of APC in Imeko Afon Local Government, I actually held a meeting with Mr Peter and others with a view to convincing them to join the ruling party.
“I have known Mr Peter since our days in PDP during the government of former Gov Gbenga Daniel, so I reached out to him and others to join our party, so that we shall duly accommodate them and ensure that they are also recognised in the scheme of things in the party.
“This I did to further strengthen my party in the local government but there was never a time I discussed anything else with Mr Peter aside asking him to dump his party and join our party.
“I don’t know anything about his appearance in the newspaper; I know nothing about the publication, and I don’t have any other discussion with him other than asking him to join the APC.”