Court Orders INEC to Reinstate Ladi Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu on its list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election within 24 hours.

Justice Peter Lifu gave the order in a judgment delivered on Friday, November 13, 2026, ruling that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory authority to unilaterally disqualify a candidate validly nominated by a political party.

The court also held that the commission violated Adebutu's right to fair hearing by excluding his name from the candidates' list without giving him an opportunity to defend himself.

Court Faults INEC's Decision

Justice Lifu declared Adebutu's removal unlawful, unconstitutional and of no effect. He maintained that the authority to disqualify a candidate after a political party has submitted the person's name rests with the Federal High Court or a State High Court.

The judge further stated that the power to nominate candidates for elections belongs exclusively to political parties, adding that INEC should approach a competent court if it has concerns about a candidate's eligibility.

The judgment followed a suit filed by the PDP and Adebutu after INEC omitted his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026.

PDP and INEC Present Conflicting Evidence

Adebutu told the court that he participated in the PDP governorship primary held on May 24, 2026, and was nominated as the party's candidate. He also said the party published his name on August 29 without any objection.

The PDP's National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that Adebutu was a registered party member whose name appeared in the membership register submitted to INEC on April 22, 2026, through a flash drive.

However, INEC's witness, Mustapha Mohammed, a programme analyst with the commission, told the court that a search conducted before the publication of the final candidates' list did not show Adebutu's name in the party's membership register.

During cross-examination, Mohammed admitted that he was not the official who received the flash drive from the PDP and could not confirm its exact contents.

Justice Lifu held that INEC failed to establish that Adebutu was absent from the membership register submitted by the party.

Court Orders Correction of Candidates' List

The judge also faulted INEC for failing to challenge the conduct of the May 24 primary election within the legally prescribed period.

He warned against allowing the commission to exercise powers not granted to it by law, noting that such authority could create uncertainty in the electoral process if used to disqualify candidates close to election day.

The court consequently ordered INEC to correct the candidates' list published on October 10 to include Adebutu's name.

It further declared that INEC could not validly announce the result of the 2027 Ogun governorship election without the participation of the plaintiffs, warning that any such election would be of no effect and unconstitutional.