Ogun 2027: Court orders INEC to publish Adebutu’s name within 24 hours

By Philip Nwosu and Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State within 24 hours.

Delivering judgment on Friday, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2573/2026, Justice Peter Lifu held that INEC’s exclusion of Adebutu’s name from the final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 election was unlawful, unconstitutional and of no effect.

The court also found that the commission breached Adebutu’s right to fair hearing.

The judge further held that once a party has forwarded a candidate’s name, the power to disqualify that candidate rests only with the Federal High Court or a State High Court, not INEC.

Before ruling on the substantive suit, Justice Lifu dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection, which sought to have the case struck out. INEC had challenged the competence of the originating summons.

The judge said the process bore the name of the senior counsel and was signed by him, alongside the names of other lawyers in his chambers. He therefore found it competent.

The PDP and Adebutu sued INEC as the sole defendant, through their lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN. They filed the suit on October 22, after Adebutu’s name was left out of the final list INEC published on October 10.

They asked the court to answer six questions and grant 11 reliefs. These included an order setting aside INEC’s decision for denying Adebutu a fair hearing and violating Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

They also sought an order compelling INEC to publish Adebutu’s name within 24 hours.

According to the court, Adebutu told it that he contested the Ogun governorship in 2019, was the PDP’s candidate in 2023, and took part in the primary for the 2027 election. The party published his name on August 29, 2026, without any challenge.

When INEC published the list of candidates in October, his name was missing, even though he had not withdrawn from the race.