When the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the names of the state’s gubernatorial candidates yesterday, Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for the gubernatorial seat in Ogun State, and AbdulKabir Akinlade, his running partner, were not included. Due to a recent court ruling that deemed the primary election that produced Adebutu as the party’s candidate in Ogun State unconstitutional, the PDP standard bearer’s name as well as the name of his running mate may have been stricken out.
The PDP’s primary elections in the state were declared invalid by a Federal High Court in Abeokuta last Tuesday. In addition, the court prohibited INEC from recognizing Adebutu as the party’s candidate for governor in the state. Justice O. O. Oguntoyinbo issued his decision and mandated new primaries within 14 days for every office. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other 12 political parties had their candidates’ names published.
According to a list placed by INEC at its headquarters in the Magbon Area of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. The names of other parties’ governorship candidates, including those from the African Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Movement, and Peoples Redemption Party, were also included on the INEC’s list.
