The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has welcomed the Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to reinstate his name on the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.
Adebutu described the judgment as a victory for justice, expressing relief over the court’s decision to direct INEC to publish his name as the PDP governorship candidate within 24 hours.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, the former lawmaker reportedly said, “Justice has prevailed! Relief is here!”
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had earlier ordered INEC to restore Adebutu’s name to the list of candidates contesting the February 6, 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
The court held that the electoral commission lacked the constitutional and statutory authority to unilaterally disqualify a candidate validly nominated by a political party without obtaining an appropriate court order.
Justice Lifu also ruled that Adebutu’s exclusion violated his right to fair hearing and declared the commission’s action unlawful, unconstitutional and of no effect.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by the PDP and Adebutu against INEC after the commission omitted his name from the final list of governorship candidates published on October 10, 2026.
The plaintiffs had approached the court on October 22, seeking an order compelling the commission to recognise Adebutu as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming election.
During the proceedings, the PDP maintained that Adebutu’s name was included in the electronic list of candidates submitted to INEC through a flash drive.
The party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that the name was contained in the device submitted to the electoral commission.
However, INEC, through its Chief Programme Analyst in the Information and Communication Technology Department, Mustapha Mohammed, insisted that Adebutu’s name was missing from the membership register submitted by the party.
The commission maintained that its records contained the name of the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, but did not show Adebutu’s details.
After considering the arguments and evidence presented by both parties, the court dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection and ruled in favour of the PDP and Adebutu.
The judge further ordered the commission to correct the candidates’ list to reflect Adebutu’s name.
The court also held that INEC could not validly declare the result of the 2027 Ogun governorship election without the participation of the plaintiffs.
Reacting to the judgment, Adebutu expressed confidence in the legal process and maintained that his emergence as the PDP candidate followed the appropriate party procedures.
The ruling represents a significant development for the PDP as preparations intensify for the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
INEC is expected to comply with the court’s directive within the stipulated 24-hour period.
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