Court Orders INEC To Reinstate Adebutu As Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours
ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore Ladi Adebutu to the list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election within 24 hours.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the electoral commission acted unlawfully by removing Adebutu’s name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer without a valid court order or affording him a fair hearing.
According to Justice Lifu, court findings confirmed that Adebutu’s name was properly documented in the authentic PDP membership register submitted to INEC, rendering his exclusion unconstitutional.
The legal dispute began after INEC omitted Adebutu from the official list of candidates published on October 10, 2026.
In response, Adebutu and the PDP filed a suit on October 22, 2026, challenging the omission.
Reacting to the judgment, Adebutu described the court’s decision as a triumph for democracy.
With the ruling, INEC is mandated to immediately update its records ahead of the Ogun State governorship election scheduled for February 6, 2027.
