2027: Iyabo Obasanjo Confident PDP Will Overcome Adebutu’s INEC Exclusion
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo, has expressed optimism that the party will remain competitive in the 2027 general elections despite the omission of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list.
Obasanjo, a former senator representing Ogun Central, maintained that the development would not diminish the party’s determination to secure victory in Ogun State, expressing confidence that Adebutu’s name would eventually be restored to the electoral commission’s list.
She spoke with journalists on Thursday, dismissing concerns that the controversy could undermine the PDP’s electoral prospects.
According to her, the party’s supporters remain resolute, while the circumstances surrounding Adebutu’s exclusion have raised questions that require clarification.
Obasanjo said she was initially unconvinced by reports of Adebutu’s omission, particularly because INEC had already published the names of other PDP candidates contesting for senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
However, she said further inquiries into the matter prompted her to question why Adebutu was treated differently despite following the same nomination procedures as other party candidates.
She said, “What is it that Honourable Ladi did differently than what we did? And when I asked that question, I have a scientific mind. The answer was, he did the exact same thing, right? That we all did.”
She added that the circumstances surrounding his exclusion raised concerns about the possible influence of political interests on the electoral process.
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health described the development as troubling for Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that political competition should be determined by voters rather than attempts to prevent perceived opponents from participating in elections.
Obasanjo warned that allowing influential politicians to manipulate electoral institutions against their rivals could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
She said the controversy went beyond Adebutu and the PDP, stressing that it raised broader questions about the independence of democratic institutions and the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
“It is not even about Honourable Adebutu, it’s not about PDP, it’s about the democracy Nigeria runs,” she said.
Despite the controversy, Obasanjo remained optimistic about the PDP’s prospects in Ogun State, insisting that the party was prepared for the 2027 elections.
