Ogun 2027: Court orders INEC to reinstate Adebutu as PDP governorship candidate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, within 24 hours, publish Oladipupo Adebutu’s name as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.

Delivering judgement, Justice Peter Lifu held that INEC has no power to unilaterally remove the name of a validly nominated candidate by a political party.

Justice Lifu declared that INEC’s action was unconstitutional, unlawful, and was of no effect.

Justice Lifu said it is only the Federal High Court or the State High Court that has the power to declare a candidate invalid and not the commission.

He held that INEC breached Adebutu’s right to fair hearing.

The judge, who dismissed the preliminary objection filed by INEC, declared that the suit was competent.

The PDP and Adebutu had, on October 22, filed the suit following the removal of Adebutu’s name from the list of contestants of governorship seat in Ogun State.

The plaintiffs sued INEC as sole defendant in the suit filed by their lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN).

Ogun 2027: Court fixes Friday for judgement in Adebutu’s suit against INEC

The plaintiffs, who sought six questions for determination, prayed the court for 11 reliefs.

They sought an order setting aside the commission’s decision to omit, remove or refuse to publish Adebutu’s name in the final list of candidates published on October 10 for denial of fair hearing and violation of the provisions of Section 29 and Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

They also sought an order directing or compelling “the defendant to, within 24 hours of the order/orders of this honourable court, include and/or publish the name of the second plaintiff as the first plaintiff’s govemorship candidate for Ogun State in the forthcoming 2027 general election.”