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•Adebutu, Pantami missing in Ogun, Gombe lists
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja and Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released the final list of candidates for the State governorship and House of Assembly elections, clearing all the incumbents re-contesting in the next year’s February poll.
The electoral umpire, in the list signed by the by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published on the commission’s website over the weekend confirmed the omission of Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, and his running mate from the final list for the February 6, 2027 poll.
Also conspicuously missing in the final list was the Gombe State PDP candidate, Isa Ali Pantami.
Although the commission did not highlight the reason for their exclusion, however Pantami’s absence is not unconnected with the legal dispute over the process that produced him as the PDP’s governorship candidate.
A Federal High Court in Gombe had, on September 24, nullified his initial emergence and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days, after finding that the earlier exercise did not comply with the party’s procedures and applicable electoral laws.
Adebutu’s omission, according to available information, comes amid questions over his name’s absence from the PDP membership register submitted to the electoral commission.
Following the concerns raised by some stakeholders about his eligibility after alleging that his name was missing from the register, the commission seems to have been left with no option than to omit his name as the candidate of the party.
According to the final list, there were variations in the number of political parties that fielded candidates for the election because while 13 parties nominated candidates in some states, there are 18 parties in other states.
In Abia State, for example, 15 political parties, including the incumbent, Alex Otti, and other candidates of AAC, ADC, ADP. APC, APGA, APM, APP, LP, NDC, NDC, NDP. NNPP, NRM, PDP, SDP, and the ZLP made the list.
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In Adamawa, the incumbent, Aminu Galadima, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will battle the ticket with other 17 opposition party candidates, just as a total of 13 political parties will slug it out in Borno state.
In Ogun, the candidates listed for the governorship election are Okewole Shuaib Olaniyi of the Accord Party; Awofala Awolola Awoniyi of the Action Alliance (AA); Lawal Jimi Adebisi of the ADC; Anifowose John Kayode of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); and Adeola Solomon Olamilekan of the APC.
Others are Babajide Rotimi Mathew of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Layi Labode Halima of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Adenuga Adekunle Dreher of the Boot Party (BP); Dasaolu Oluwaseyi Olamilekan of the National Democratic Party (NDP); and Akinbola Hammed Rotham of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The remaining candidates are Fayoyin Olujobi Ezekiel of the National Rescue Movement (NRM); Ola Willams Adeyinka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); and Johnson Cyrus Oluwaseun of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
INEC’s regulations allow political parties 14 days after publication of the list to notify the Commission in writing if any of their candidates’ names are missing, supported by an affidavit from the national chairman and secretary.
Reacting to the development, however, Ijebu East PDP ICT, Media and Publicity Committee, said the news of the omission of Adebutu and his running mate was totally false, baseless and totally propaganda.
“We wish to inform the general public, our teeming supporters, party leaders, and the good people of Ogun State that this report is totally false, baseless, and a deliberate propaganda sponsored by jittery opposition who are already afraid of the overwhelming popularity and acceptance of Hon. Ladi Adebutu ahead of 2027.
“What INEC displayed recently at its state office is NOT the final list. It is a routine preliminary list for public display, claims and objections as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022. This is a standard administrative procedure that allows parties to correct any typographical errors or omissions.
“Every stakeholder in the political space knows that INEC does not release its final list in this manner. The Commission has its own official timetable,” the committee stated.
