PDP Adebutu claims over his eligibility have triggered a fresh political dispute in Ogun, with the party rejecting allegations and challenging the APC
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has rejected allegations questioning the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, while accusing the All Progressives Congress of attempting to divert attention from questions surrounding APC candidate Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola’s alleged indigeneship.
Also read: 2027: Peter Obi Pledges ‘No Fake Promises’ to Nigerians
The latest exchange adds another layer to the increasingly competitive political contest in Ogun State, where Adebutu and Adeola are emerging as central figures ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, PDP State Publicity Secretary Kayode Adebayo dismissed claims by the Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum that Adebutu’s name was missing from the party’s official membership register.
Adebayo said Adebutu remained a registered and financially active member of the PDP and maintained that the party had complied with statutory requirements concerning the submission of its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The PDP spokesman described the allegations as an attempt to create uncertainty around Adebutu’s candidacy.
The party also challenged the suggestion that Adebutu could be disqualified because of issues surrounding membership registration or nomination procedures, arguing that questions of electoral eligibility must be determined under the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable legal decisions.
The PDP’s response comes amid a wider political dispute involving Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, whose eligibility and roots in Ogun have also become subjects of political debate.
Some opposition figures and groups have questioned Adeola’s claim to Ogun State indigeneship, pointing to his earlier political representation of Lagos.
Adeola’s supporters have rejected the allegations, while APC figures have described the controversy as a political distraction.
The APC has also criticised Adebutu over his attacks on Adeola, with APC campaign council chairman Kayode Oladele arguing that the 2027 contest should focus on policies, records and development plans rather than personal allegations.
The PDP, however, has turned the argument back on the APC, alleging that scrutiny of Adebutu’s membership status is intended to divert attention from the controversy surrounding Adeola’s political origins.
The party further alleged that questions had been raised over constituency projects associated with Adeola’s political career.
Those allegations remain claims by the PDP and have not been established as facts in the material reviewed for this report.
The dispute comes as both parties intensify their preparations for the 2027 election.
Adebutu has already begun campaigning on a seven-point agenda, known as “ITURA DE”, which focuses on issues including insecurity, unemployment, poverty, public services and local government administration.
Adeola, meanwhile, has faced sustained political attacks over his ancestry and political history, with APC allies defending his candidacy and arguing that the controversy should not overshadow his record and policy proposals.
The competing narratives illustrate how the Ogun contest is already extending beyond conventional policy arguments to questions of party membership, candidate eligibility, political records and identity.
For the PDP, the immediate position is that Adebutu’s nomination remains intact and that any challenge to his eligibility should be pursued through the appropriate legal and electoral channels rather than through public allegations.
The party also urged INEC and relevant authorities to rely on verifiable records when considering any complaint relating to its candidate.
Also read: 2027: Peter Obi Pledges ‘No Fake Promises’ to Nigerians
With the 2027 election still ahead, the dispute is likely to remain part of the broader political contest as the PDP and APC seek to build support across Ogun State.
