The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State has dismissed allegations questioning the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candaidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, describing it as a fabrication by political detractors.
The party was reacting to claims by the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum, ODAF, that Adebutu’s name was omitted from its official membership register.
In a statement on Tuesday, the State Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, said Adebutu remains a fully registered, financial and undisputed leader of the party in the state.
Adebayo said the party complied strictly with all legal and statutory requirements under the Electoral Act regarding submission of the membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, within stipulated deadlines.
He described the disqualification narrative as a sponsored smear campaign by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its proxy groups to cause panic and distract from its vulnerabilities ahead of the election.
According to the PDP, the false narrative was aimed at covering up unresolved questions surrounding the indigene status of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
The party noted that after decades of representing Lagos State in the legislature, Adeola’s sudden shift of political base to Ogun remains a critical issue the APC is desperate to conceal.
The PDP further alleged that the propaganda was meant to bury public scrutiny over alleged diversion of federal constituency projects meant for other states into Ogun State to falsely project achievements.
The party rejected the legal assertions made by ODAF regarding Supreme Court rulings and nomination fee payments, insisting that eligibility is determined by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, not press statements by politically aligned groups.
It urged INEC to ignore pressure from political proxies and reassured supporters that Adebutu’s nomination remains intact and that he is fully eligible to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Ogun: PDP dismisses claims against Adebutu, accuses APC of covering Yayi’s indigeneship controversy