A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ogun State.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, Peter Lifu, presiding judge, directed INEC to publish Adebutu’s name as the party’s duly nominated candidate within 24 hours.
The judge held that the electoral commission lacked the powers to unilaterally remove the name of a candidate validly nominated by a political party.
He described INEC’s action as unconstitutional, unlawful and without effect.
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Lifu said only a court of law has the authority to declare a candidate’s nomination invalid, not the electoral umpire.
Adebutu and his running mate’s names were missing from the list published on the electoral umpire’s website in October.
The politician had subsequently vowed to challenge the omission. On October 29, 2026, INEC rejected Adebutu’s petition on the subject.
