The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the name of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to its list of contestants for the 2027 Ogun State election within 24 hours.
Titiansloaded reports that Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on Friday, ruling that the electoral commission acted outside its legal authority when it excluded Adebutu from the list without giving him an opportunity to defend himself.
The court described INEC’s decision as unlawful and unconstitutional, adding that the commission could not independently disqualify a candidate validly nominated by a political party.
Justice Lifu maintained that only a Federal High Court or a State High Court could disqualify a candidate after a political party had submitted the individual’s name to the electoral body.
The ruling followed a legal action filed by Adebutu and the PDP after INEC released its final list of governorship candidates on October 10, 2026, without including the former candidate.
Before considering the main issues, the judge dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection, which questioned the validity of the suit. He held that the originating summons was properly signed by a senior lawyer and included the names of other legal practitioners in the firm.
During the proceedings, Adebutu told the court that he had contested the 2019 Ogun governorship election and represented the PDP in the 2023 poll. He also said he participated in the party’s primary election for the 2027 contest and emerged as its candidate on May 24, 2026.
According to him, the party published his nomination on August 29 without receiving any objection. However, he discovered that his name was missing when INEC released its final candidates’ list in October.
The plaintiffs further informed the court that the PDP and its National Secretary wrote to INEC on October 14, requesting the restoration of Adebutu’s name, but the commission did not act on their appeal.
The PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that Adebutu was a registered party member whose details appeared in the membership register submitted to INEC on April 22, 2026.
Bature said the register contained more than 30,000 members and was delivered to the commission through a flash drive. He added that Adebutu registered on February 24, 2026, and his membership had never been disputed.
INEC’s witness, Mustapha Mohammed, a programme analyst, gave a different account, telling the court that the commission’s search did not produce Adebutu’s name in the PDP register. He confirmed, however, that the deputy governorship candidate’s name was found.
Under cross-examination, Mohammed admitted that he did not personally receive the flash drive from the PDP and could not verify its exact contents.
Justice Lifu subsequently held that INEC failed to prove that Adebutu was absent from the membership register submitted by the party. He also faulted the commission for not challenging the conduct of the primary election within the legally prescribed period.
The judge warned that allowing INEC to disqualify candidates without recourse to the courts could create serious problems for the electoral process, including the possibility of a candidate being removed shortly before an election.
He ruled that the authority to nominate candidates belongs exclusively to political parties, while disputes over a candidate’s qualification after submission must be taken before a competent court.
The court consequently ordered INEC to amend the October 10 list and include Adebutu’s name. It also declared that the commission could not validly announce the result of the 2027 Ogun governorship election without the participation of the plaintiffs, stating that such an exercise would be unconstitutional and have no legal effect.
