Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State have expressed displeasure over the omission of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) final list for the 2027 governorship election, with some threatening to withhold their votes from the party’s candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
The aggrieved members argued that a contest involving major political parties is healthier for democracy and gives party structures, leaders and grassroots members a chance to participate meaningfully in the process.
They also alleged that Adebutu’s exclusion could deny APC members at the grassroots the economic benefits that usually come with a competitive campaign.
“Election is not a solo business,” the members said, insisting that campaigns create opportunities for party leaders, ward executives, coordinators, canvassers and other grassroots structures to benefit from the mobilisation process.
They accused Yayi of “running away from contest” and of trying to turn the election into a “solo run.”
One of the members said their concern was not about backing the PDP candidate but about protecting the tradition of competitive politics.
“Even if Yayi is the only person on the ballot, some of us may not vote for him. Democracy is about choice and competition,” the member was quoted as saying.
The members maintained that the APC should not be comfortable with an election in which one of the major opposition contenders is missing from the ballot.
They said a fiercely contested election would ordinarily activate party structures across the state’s 20 local government areas, 236 wards and thousands of polling units, while a one-sided race could weaken grassroots mobilisation. “A fair contest puts money into the hands of the people working for the party,” they said.
They urged APC leaders to consider the long-term consequences of what they described as an attempt to produce a “one-man race,” stressing that their stance should not be read as support for the PDP.
The omission
INEC’s final list, published ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election, contains 13 candidates for Ogun State. Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, are not on it, while Yayi and his running mate, Kudirat Abiodun Balogun, appear as the APC’s candidates.
INEC has explained that its decision is based on statutory requirements on political party membership registers under Sections 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, following a Supreme Court decision affirming the provisions.
Adebutu has rejected questions over his eligibility, insisting he is a duly registered PDP member and that his membership documentation was completed, verified and submitted within the stipulated period. He has vowed to challenge the omission through the appropriate channels.
The PDP has disputed the circumstances of his exclusion and accused the APC of pressuring INEC, an allegation the APC has denied.
For now, Adebutu’s political fate hinges on the legal and administrative processes surrounding his removal from the list. But the grassroots reaction within the APC adds a new dimension to the controversy, raising the question of whether an election can be considered healthy when a major contender is absent, and whether a ruling party can win a “solo race” without risking resentment from its own base.
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