Ogun PDP Deputy Candidate Confident INEC Will Fix Adebutu's Omission

The Peoples Democratic Party’s deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State for the 2027 elections, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, believes that the Independent National Electoral Commission will sort out the omission of the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from its final list of candidates.

Sowunmi-Kolapo thinks the omission was a mistake. She trusts the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and believes the commission will run credible elections.

She spoke with journalists on Friday after Jumat prayers at the headquarters of the Nawair-ud-deen Society in Abeokuta. She received support from key leaders of the Muslim group during this visit.

When asked about the omission and the joy among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress after the list was published, she told the public not to see this as a setback for her party. She is confident that INEC will do its job and fix the issue.

Sowunmi-Kolapo pointed out that President Bola Tinubu made a good choice in appointing Amupitan as INEC chairman. She called him a respected professional whose reputation is solid.

She acknowledged that leading an electoral commission comes with pressure, but she feels sure Amupitan will maintain his integrity and that of the commission.

She said, "One of the appointments President Tinubu got right is that of Prof. Joash Amupitan as the chairman of INEC. Prof. Amupitan is a globally recognised professional who would not do anything to taint his integrity in a damning way, even though it may not be out of place for the ruling party to put pressure on anyone holding such a position."

She added, "I, however, have strong confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to free and fair elections, no matter whose ox is gored, and INEC will certainly correct all that are needed to be corrected."

Sowunmi-Kolapo also showed trust in Tinubu’s promise to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, no matter the political interests.

On the excitement from APC members about Adebutu’s absence from the list, she called their joy premature. She said it reflects worry ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

She stated, "Their euphoria over what I consider a dead-on-arrival mission is a symptom of a panic attack. They are ‘soon-to-be IDPs (Internally Displaced Politicians)’ and they are exhibiting the symptoms of ‘IDPA (Impending Defeat Panic Attack)."

Sowunmi-Kolapo affirmed that the PDP is still focused on its political mission in Ogun State. She insisted that no problem can permanently derail what she sees as a movement for the people’s interests.

She said, "We will soon separate the wheat from the chaff. There is a difference between people who are fighting for their pockets or fighting to retain their juicy positions and those fighting to protect our heritage, in the interest of generations of true Ogun indigenes, who must not be relegated to second-class citizens by imported leaders."

She also stressed that the resources of Ogun State should benefit its people. This belief is part of the PDP’s ITURA DE mandate.

Sowunmi-Kolapo said an Adebutu-led PDP government would focus on citizens’ welfare. It would also ensure that local governments have real financial independence to improve accountability and services at the grassroots level.

Earlier, the Otun Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and Iya Sunnah of the Nawair-ud-deen Society, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, urged members of the community, the Egba Muslim Community, and the wider Ogun State Muslim Community to back Sowunmi-Kolapo and Adebutu.

Ogunfemi called Sowunmi-Kolapo a source of pride for the Muslim community, expressing confidence that she would serve well if elected with Adebutu.

The event included prayers for the success of the PDP governorship ticket in the 2027 elections. Prayers were also offered for the safety of both candidates and the progress of Ogun State.

Imams and Islamic scholars took turns to pray, while the Chief Imam of the society in the state, Sheikh Tiamiyu Olamigoke, prayed for Adebutu and his running mate.

INEC had recently left Adebutu and his running mate off its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.

The final list, published on the commission’s website last Friday, showed that Adebutu’s exclusion meant the PDP had no governorship candidate among the 13 candidates listed for the election. This raised concerns about the party's participation.

Adebutu, however, has called for calm, saying this situation is a temporary setback. He is sure his name will be on the ballot for next year’s election.

He stated that he completed his digital membership registration in time. His membership card was printed and verified before he submitted the necessary documents to INEC on time.

The PDP governorship candidate also said the party’s primary election, which made him the candidate for the 2027 poll, was held with INEC officials present as observers.

He noted that the relevant documents were given for verification and confirmation, adding that the reasons for the omission should be viewed with these facts in mind.

He questioned why his name was missing from the published list when other PDP candidates for the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate were included.