BREAKING: Court orders INEC to publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP governorship candidate within 24 hours
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Oladipupo Adebutu’s name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election within 24 hours.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that INEC lacked the authority to independently remove the name of a candidate validly nominated by a political party.
The judge described the commission’s decision as unconstitutional, unlawful and without legal effect.
Justice Lifu maintained that only the Federal High Court or a state high court could declare a candidate invalid, not INEC.
He also ruled that the electoral commission violated Adebutu’s right to a fair hearing.
The judge dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection and held that the suit was competent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP and Adebutu instituted the suit on October 22 after INEC removed his name from the list of candidates contesting the Ogun governorship election.
The plaintiffs listed INEC as the sole defendant in the case filed through their lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN.
They presented six questions for the court’s determination and requested 11 reliefs.
Among their requests was an order setting aside INEC’s decision to omit, remove or decline to publish Adebutu’s name in the final list of candidates released on October 10.
They argued that the decision denied him a fair hearing and violated Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The plaintiffs also asked the court to direct INEC to “within twenty-four (24) hours of the order/orders of this honourable court, include and/or publish the name of the 2nd plaintiff as the 1st plaintiff’s governorship candidate for Ogun State in the forthcoming 2027 General Election,” among other reliefs. (NAN)