‘Stop the blame game’: Ogun APC tackles PDP over Adebutu’s exclusion

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of playing the blame game over the omission of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The APC urged the opposition party and its candidate to accept responsibility for the development rather than accuse the ruling party of influencing the electoral commission’s decision.

The party’s position followed allegations by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, and Adebutu that pressure from the APC led to the candidate’s exclusion from the list.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council, Kayode Odunaro, defended INEC, saying the commission should be allowed to perform its duties in accordance with the law.

“APC and its candidates are contestants with other political parties’ candidates in the race towards 2027 under INEC as the umpire and regulatory body. How can anyone now attribute the failure of PDP to follow through on simple administrative procedures and adherence to rules of the game as pressure from APC on INEC leading to the non-listing of their candidate as a contestant.

“Besides, other candidates from other states suffered the same fate as factional PDP in Ogun State for similar non adherence to the law. The nationally comatose PDP should stop the blame game on APC and its flagbearer, Senator Solomon Adeola for all their gambling tendencies in simple matters of following laid down rules,” Odunaro said.

He added that the APC and its governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, were prepared to contest against any candidate cleared by INEC, but argued that campaigning against a party whose candidate was not on the commission’s list would be a waste of time.

Odunaro said the APC was seeking victory based on its candidate’s performance and capacity, as well as equity and justice, through its nine-point ITESIWAJU manifesto.

“Our stand on this is that APC and its candidate for the governorship race is campaigning to win based on proven and verifiable performance, capacity, equity and justice with its 9-Point ITESIWAJU Manifesto. We do not sympathize with any party or candidate that run foul of the rules of the game in any way.

“We all know what happens to a team fielding an ineligible player in a game of even football. More like scoring an own goal to lose the match whatever other score on the scoreboard,” he said.

The APC reiterated its confidence in Adeola’s popularity ahead of the February 2027 governorship election. It also rejected the prospect of Ogun State being governed by what it described as an “Iperu to Iperu Governor”, an apparent reference to Adebutu.

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of playing the blame game over the omission of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The APC urged the opposition party and its candidate to accept responsibility for the development rather than accuse the ruling party of influencing the electoral commission’s decision.

The party’s position followed allegations by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, and Adebutu that pressure from the APC led to the candidate’s exclusion from the list.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council, Kayode Odunaro, defended INEC, saying the commission should be allowed to perform its duties in accordance with the law.

“APC and its candidates are contestants with other political parties’ candidates in the race towards 2027 under INEC as the umpire and regulatory body. How can anyone now attribute the failure of PDP to follow through on simple administrative procedures and adherence to rules of the game as pressure from APC on INEC leading to the non-listing of their candidate as a contestant.

“Besides, other candidates from other states suffered the same fate as factional PDP in Ogun State for similar non adherence to the law. The nationally comatose PDP should stop the blame game on APC and its flagbearer, Senator Solomon Adeola for all their gambling tendencies in simple matters of following laid down rules,” Odunaro said.

He added that the APC and its governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, were prepared to contest against any candidate cleared by INEC, but argued that campaigning against a party whose candidate was not on the commission’s list would be a waste of time.

Odunaro said the APC was seeking victory based on its candidate’s performance and capacity, as well as equity and justice, through its nine-point ITESIWAJU manifesto.

“Our stand on this is that APC and its candidate for the governorship race is campaigning to win based on proven and verifiable performance, capacity, equity and justice with its 9-Point ITESIWAJU Manifesto. We do not sympathize with any party or candidate that run foul of the rules of the game in any way.

“We all know what happens to a team fielding an ineligible player in a game of even football. More like scoring an own goal to lose the match whatever other score on the scoreboard,” he said.

The APC reiterated its confidence in Adeola’s popularity ahead of the February 2027 governorship election. It also rejected the prospect of Ogun State being governed by what it described as an “Iperu to Iperu Governor”, an apparent reference to Adebutu.