The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has downplayed the omission of his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list of governorship candidates, describing it as a temporary setback that will not affect his ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Adebutu made the remarks on Monday while welcoming more than 1,000 defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the PDP at the party’s state secretariat in Abeokuta.
The defectors, led by former House of Representatives member Segun William, were received alongside key PDP leaders, including the party’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate, Iyabo Obasanjo.
Addressing party members and supporters, Adebutu expressed confidence that the issues surrounding his exclusion from the INEC list would be resolved, insisting that he remains a loyal and registered member of the PDP.
He maintained that his long-standing participation in elections under the PDP platform over the past two decades demonstrates his commitment to the party and challenged critics to provide evidence that he had ever defected to another political party.
“I have been the PDP candidate in every election cycle for the last 20 years. At what point did I leave the party? Where is the proof that I even visited an APC office, let alone joined the party?” he queried.
Adebutu also revealed that he played a major role in organising and funding the party’s recent membership registration exercise in Ogun State, which he said enrolled more than 19,800 members. According to him, his own registration number, 1536, further confirms his status as a PDP member.
He alleged that the controversy over his name on the INEC list was intended to distract the opposition and discourage voters but assured supporters that the party would remain focused on its objectives.
“The controversy surrounding my name on the INEC list is an attempt to distract the opposition and disenfranchise voters. We will not lose focus,” he said.
The PDP chieftain further disclosed that the party had intensified its grassroots mobilisation campaign across the state. He said campaign teams had already visited 12 of Ogun’s 20 local government areas and more than 140 of the 236 wards.
According to him, the outreach exercise would continue despite attempts to divert attention from the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
“We will keep our eyes on the ball and continue engaging the people. We are determined to remain focused and achieve victory,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, William said their decision to leave the APC stemmed from dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s style of governance and what he described as its failure to uphold democratic values and deliver meaningful development in Ogun State.
He explained that although he entered partisan politics in 2007 and eventually joined the APC despite advice to align with the PDP, his experience within the ruling party convinced him that it no longer reflected the democratic principles he believed in.
William expressed confidence in the PDP’s leadership and said the defectors were committed to contributing to the political and socio-economic development of Ogun State through their new platform.
The defection is expected to boost the PDP’s mobilisation efforts as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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