The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the February 6, 2027 election in Ogun State.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on Friday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Adebutu and the PDP against INEC over the exclusion of his name from the commission’s final list of candidates.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2573/2026, followed INEC’s publication of the final list on October 10, 2026, without Adebutu’s name. The plaintiffs had approached the court on October 22, challenging the decision and seeking an order compelling the electoral commission to recognise him as the party’s candidate.
During the proceedings, INEC argued that Adebutu’s name was missing from the membership register earlier submitted by the PDP. The commission also disputed his claim to membership serial number 1536, maintaining that its records assigned the number to another individual, identified as Lugboso Sunday Seun.
However, after hearing arguments from the parties and considering their final written addresses, Justice Lifu ruled in favour of Adebutu and the PDP, directing INEC to restore his name to the candidates’ list.
Reacting to the judgment, Adebutu described the ruling as a victory for justice, the rule of law and democratic principles.
In a statement, he said the decision was an important step towards resolving the controversy surrounding his omission from the electoral commission’s list.
He also expressed appreciation to the PDP national leadership, the Ogun State chapter and his supporters for standing by him throughout the legal proceedings.
Adebutu urged his supporters to remain calm and focused, maintaining that the political struggle was beyond an individual or electoral contest but centred on the welfare and progress of Ogun State.
He reaffirmed his commitment to engaging residents and addressing the challenges confronting the state, insisting that the court ruling would not distract him from that responsibility.
