The Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 24 hours to include Oladipupo Adebutu on its list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the directive on Friday, November 13, while delivering judgment in a suit challenging the commission’s decision to leave Adebutu and his running mate out of the list published on its website in October.
The court faulted INEC’s handling of the matter, holding that the commission could not independently invalidate a candidate’s nomination after a political party had duly submitted the candidate.
Lifu maintained that the power to declare a nomination invalid rests with the courts, not the electoral body.
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He consequently ruled that INEC’s action was unconstitutional, unlawful and without effect.
The judgment comes after Adebutu protested his exclusion from the list and sought the commission’s intervention.
First Daily recalls that, on October 29, 2026, INEC rejected his petition over the omission, prompting the PDP politician to vow to challenge the decision in court.
With Friday’s ruling, the commission is now required to publish Adebutu’s name as the PDP’s duly nominated candidate for the Ogun State governorship election within the period stipulated by the court.