The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ogun State in the 2027 general election.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Friday, November 13, 2026, directing INEC to restore Adebutu’s name to the list of candidates and publish the updated list within 24 hours.

The court held that INEC lacked the authority to unilaterally remove a candidate validly sponsored by a political party without an appropriate court order.

The judge also ruled that the electoral commission’s decision to exclude Adebutu was unlawful and violated his right to fair hearing.

Court Upholds Adebutu’s PDP Membership

The judgment followed a suit filed by Adebutu and the PDP against INEC after the commission omitted his name from the final list of candidates for the Ogun State governorship election.

INEC had explained that its review of the PDP membership register submitted to the commission did not produce Adebutu’s name. The commission maintained that it found the details of the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, in the register.

The PDP challenged the commission’s position, insisting that Adebutu was a registered party member and that his name was included in the electronic list of candidates submitted to INEC.

During the proceedings, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that Adebutu’s name appeared on the flash drive submitted to the commission.

The court ruled that the PDP established Adebutu’s membership of the party and questioned INEC’s authority to determine the party’s membership records.

Justice Lifu also faulted INEC for failing to provide evidence that the flash drive submitted by the PDP had been altered.

INEC Ordered To Publish Name Within 24 Hours

In its consequential order, the court directed INEC to immediately restore Adebutu’s name to the list of candidates cleared to contest the 2027 Ogun governorship election and publish the updated list within 24 hours.

The ruling resolves the immediate legal dispute over Adebutu’s omission from the electoral commission’s candidate list.

Major Development For Ogun PDP

The judgment represents a significant development for the Ogun State PDP as the party prepares for the 2027 governorship election.

Adebutu, who previously contested the Ogun governorship election, now has the court’s order directing INEC to recognise and publish his name as the party’s candidate.

The ruling also places renewed attention on the relationship between political parties and the electoral commission, particularly the limits of INEC’s authority over candidates sponsored by political parties.

With the court’s directive, attention now turns to INEC’s compliance with the order and the next phase of the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 election.

Meta Description: Federal High Court orders INEC to reinstate Ladi Adebutu as Ogun PDP governorship candidate and publish his name within 24 hours.

Image Alt Text: Hon. Oladipupo Ladi Adebutu, whose candidacy for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election has been upheld by the Federal High Court in Abuja.