The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the name of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr Ladi Adebutu, was missing from the party’s membership register submitted to the commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC made the disclosure in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to a suit instituted by the PDP and Adebutu, challenging the commission’s decision to exclude the former lawmaker from the final list of candidates cleared to contest the February 6, 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.

The counter-affidavit, deposed to by Mustapha Mohammed, a Chief Programme Analyst in INEC’s Information and Communication Technology Department, stated that the commission conducted a search of the PDP membership register before publishing the final list but could not find Adebutu’s name.

According to the commission, the only name it identified in the register among the party’s two candidates was that of its deputy governorship candidate, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi.

INEC further told the court that it conducted additional searches using possible variations of Adebutu’s name but found no matching record in the Ogun State membership register submitted by the PDP.

The commission also disclosed that the party submitted two flash drives alongside a hard-copy membership register, but none contained Adebutu’s name and personal particulars.

It maintained that the documents submitted to the commission were different from the flash drive later attached by the PDP to its court processes.

INEC specifically stated that membership serial number 1536, which Adebutu allegedly claimed belonged to him, was registered in the name of Lugboso Sunday Seun.

The commission’s position is contained in its response to suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2573/2026, in which the PDP and Adebutu are seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise his candidacy.

The PDP is listed as the first plaintiff, while Adebutu is the second plaintiff, with INEC as the sole defendant.

The commission maintained that it exercised due diligence in examining the membership records submitted by the party before publishing the final list of governorship candidates.

Following the adoption of final addresses by the parties, Justice Peter Lifu fixed Friday for judgment in the matter.