2027: PDP commends state chairmen for candidates’ nominations, silent on Adebutu’s omission

PDP National chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed

Abdulrahman Mohammed, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the party’s nominations at all levels were conducted smoothly.

He did not, however, address the omission of the party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, from the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Mohammed commended the party’s state chairmen for the successful nomination of candidates for the 2027 general election, expressing confidence that PDP candidates would win elections in all categories in which the party is fielding candidates in 2027, despite the party’s support for the Rainbow Coalition, campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

He spoke at a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and state chairmen at the PDP secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

“I want to use this opportunity to also appreciate the state chairmen across the federation for the successful nomination of our candidates for the state assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship across the 36 states.

“I want to thank you for making sure that we have a smooth process across the 36 states to enable us to come out with these successful candidates, which is our prayer that, come 2027, our candidates will make it in all positions that they are vying for,” he said.

Mr Mohammed maintained that the NWC remained the party’s leadership overseeing its affairs across the federation and pledged that it would work to ensure the success of PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.

“The National Working Committee of our great party remains the leadership of PDP, which oversees the affairs of the party in the federation.

“We are all charged with the responsibility of making sure that, under the leadership of myself, the National Secretary and other members of the National Working Committee, we will make everything possible so that the outcome of the 2027 election will be a starting point for success for our dear nation,” he said. No word on Adebutu

Mr Mohammed did not publicly address the omission of Mr Adebutu, the party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, from INEC’s list of candidates for the 2027 elections.

As it stands, the party has no governorship candidate INEC has recognised in Ogun State.

The Supreme Court, on 24 September, upheld provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 requiring political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within a prescribed period.

Under Section 77(5) of the Act, only party members whose names appear on the membership register submitted to INEC within the stipulated period are eligible to participate in party primaries. Section 77(7) provides that a party that fails to submit its register within the prescribed period is ineligible to field candidates.

INEC initially omitted Mr Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, from its final list of governorship candidates published on 10 October. The commission subsequently explained that the exclusions of Mr Adebutu and the PDP’s Gombe State candidate, Isa Pantami, followed the parties’ failure to comply with the membership-register requirements.

However, the PDP and Mr Adebutu rejected the allegations, insisting that he was a duly registered party member and had completed his registration within the stipulated period.

INEC has confirmed Mr Pantami as the governorship candidate for Gombe State but refused to include Mr Adebutu on the list after rejecting his petition challenging his exclusion.

There are speculations that the petition was rejected because the PDP had not included his name in the list of candidates originally submitted to the commission.

Meanwhile, Austin Nwachukwu, chairperson of the PDP State Chairmen Forum, pledged the forum’s loyalty to the NWC led by Mr Mohammed.

Mr Nwachukwu, who is also the PDP chairman in Imo State, alleged that some governors were intimidating the party’s candidates ahead of the elections because of their popularity.

He cited Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru as one of the governors allegedly intimidating PDP candidates.

According to him, the forum had prepared a petition to be submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on the matter.

Mr Nwachukwu said the forum would not allow any of its candidates to be harassed or intimidated.