PDP Crisis Puts Adebutu's Ogun Governorship Ambition in Doubt

The race for the Ogun State governorship seat is looking uncertain for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Oladipupo Adebutu. The internal problems in the party could threaten his ambition as the February 6, 2027 election approaches.

Oladipupo Adebutu, who got 262,383 votes in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, now faces the risk of being left out of the 2027 race. This is because he and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, were not included in the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) list of candidates.

This situation has put Adebutu in a tough spot, but he insists he is a registered member of the PDP and is qualified to run. INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that the PDP did not follow the rules to submit its membership register before holding valid primaries.

Even after the PDP petitioned about Adebutu's exclusion, INEC did not add his name to the final list after the 14-day appeal period ended. For someone looking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, this issue has turned into a fight for his political future, and the outcome could affect the PDP's chances in the state.

Sunday PUNCH points out that this is not the first time Adebutu has faced such a problem. Ahead of the 2019 governorship election, the PDP had a leadership crisis, which led to two factions and competing candidates. During that time, two groups held separate governorship primaries. Adebutu was selected from the primary held by the National Working Committee led by Uche Secondus. However, the late senator Buruji Kashamu was chosen from a parallel process run by the Adebayo Dayo-led faction.

A Federal High Court later ruled that INEC should recognize Kashamu as the party's candidate, causing Adebutu to lose the ticket. Now, eight years later, another internal conflict is putting his governorship hope at risk.

Sunday PUNCH also found that the reason for Adebutu's exclusion is linked to the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level. The party is divided into two rival groups. One faction, supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed as National Chairman. The other faction is led by Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, who also claims leadership of the party.

Although INEC recognizes the Mohammed-led group, both factions held parallel membership registration drives in the time allowed. Adebutu's ties to the Turaki-led faction are said to be the main issue behind his exclusion.

An Ogun PDP official, who wished to stay anonymous, explained that Adebutu registered with the faction that INEC rejected. The official said that Adebutu's name was not included in the digital membership register submitted to INEC by the Mohammed-led group before the primary.

"His name is not on the party digital register that was submitted to INEC, 21 days before the PDP primary election in the state by the Mohammed-led exco of the party. He registered with the Turaki-led faction of the party. This is why even after the 14-day appeal window, INEC still did not publish his name," the source said.

Another party leader in Ogun, Gbenga Akanji, blamed the Wike-backed faction for Adebutu's exclusion. He claimed that this faction was out to target Adebutu because of his relationship with the Turaki faction. Akanji questioned why INEC included Iyabo Obasanjo, who switched from the APC to PDP just days before the party's senatorial primary, while leaving out Adebutu, a long-term party member.

"This is pure politics. How can Iyabo Obasanjo's name be on the list and Adebutu, who has been a member of the party for over 20 years, could not make the list? I think this is the handiwork of the Wike-led faction, which felt Adebutu should be punished because of his relationship with the Turaki faction."

Adebutu has pushed back against doubts about his PDP membership, calling the removal of his name a deliberate attempt to undermine his political goals. Speaking on Monday at the party's state secretariat in Abeokuta, he stated that he helped to organize and fund the recent membership registration in Ogun, where over 19,800 new members were signed up.

He revealed that his registration number is 1536 and insisted that he is fully registered and qualified to run for the governorship. "Why shouldn’t my name come out? I was duly registered and orchestrated the registration exercise in this state," he said. He added that INEC's handling of the party's primary proves that his membership is recognized.

The former governorship candidate also accused the APC and its candidate, Olamilekan Adeola, known as Yayi, of trying to weaken the opposition. "They want to shut us up and make sure they run unopposed. But we will resist it," he said.

Even with uncertainties around his candidacy, Adebutu believes this situation will not derail his campaign. He stated that the party has visited 12 local government areas in the state and that they will not let this issue distract them. "We have no fear at all. It has not slowed us down. We will not be distracted; we will keep our eyes on the ball," he added.

Other PDP leaders in the state share his confidence. They believe the issue will be sorted out through INEC's processes or through the courts. A former Chairman of Ijebu East LGA, Wale Adedayo, expressed trust that Adebutu will make the ballot, insisting that the PDP has only one recognized faction in Ogun State.

Adedayo questioned why INEC published the names of 38 out of 40 candidates submitted by the party while leaving out Adebutu and his running mate. "I’m sure the issue will be resolved soon. Ladi will be on the ballot, I have no doubt about it, either through the courts or through the normal administrative process. There are no two factions of PDP in Ogun State. So, you can’t say you are taking 38 candidates and you are rejecting two when it is the same national secretariat that forwarded their names to you. On what basis?"

He pointed out that Adebutu has been financially supporting the party and described the current situation as unprecedented interference in a political party's internal matters. He argued that INEC should not decide which candidates a party presents, citing past Supreme Court rulings on this issue.

"In Nigeria, the major problem we have is impunity. We have had a lot of impunity being done over the years. It is the first time in Nigerian history, not even during the first republic, second republic or the third republic, that this kind of thing has happened. It has never happened that a political party will submit the list of its candidates and the electoral body will say no, they are removing one or two. When the Supreme Court has already said it is not the responsibility of INEC to determine who a party presents, that the political party holds the final decision when it comes to its candidates," Adedayo said.

A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Fasiu Bakene, also expressed hope that INEC would restore Adebutu's name. Bakene, a former member of the state House of Assembly, called on the commission to fix what he sees as an injustice and mentioned that the party would seek legal action if necessary. He dismissed claims that Wike is responsible for Adebutu's challenges, calling such accusations mischievous.

"Wike is many things, but he is not a destroyer. He cannot destroy the party he is committed to building," he said. Bakene suggested that the PDP might take legal steps against INEC if they do not restore the names of Adebutu and his running mate.

He insisted that the party remains united in Ogun despite the current issues, adding that this exclusion has only strengthened the members' resolve. According to him, the delay in restoring the candidates’ names has not weakened the party's support base, as members are eager to see the PDP fully participate in the 2027 governorship election.

Meanwhile, the APC has rejected claims of interference, saying the PDP should handle its own issues. A member of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun State, Bolaji Adeniji, blamed Adebutu's situation on the PDP's leadership crisis and alleged failure to follow INEC's membership guidelines.

He said Adebutu should look at his own party's problems instead of blaming the APC and its candidate for trying to weaken the opposition. "If Adebutu violated the procedures of the INEC guideline, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, why are you blaming APC for that? Why will you blame the APC or Yayi for your gambling between two factions of the PDP?" Adeniji asked.

He described the PDP’s internal processes as weak and ineffective, claiming that the party failed to ensure its candidate was properly registered. Adeniji also mentioned that Atiku Abubakar and Seyi Makinde, who were linked to the Turaki faction, left the party because they saw it as failing.

"He (Adebutu) gambled between these two factions of a sinking party. The likes of Atiku Abubakar and Seyi Makinde that were with the Turaki faction left the party because they knew that it was a sinking ship that was taking anybody nowhere. But Ladi Adebutu chose to stick with it. Now he has sunk with the party. His predicament is self-inflicted. He should lick his wounds quietly and bid his governorship ambition goodbye because, as of today, he is not a candidate."