There were palpable fears among the supporters of the factional governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, over the missing of his name on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s list released on Tuesday.
About 13 political parties and their candidates appeared on the final list released by the electoral body.
Also missing on the list was the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Kehinde Sogunle.
Adebutu, his deputy, Adekunle Akinlade, were conspicuously missing.
Their names might have been struck out arising from a recent court judgement which declared illegal the primary election that produced Adebutu as the PDP’s flag bearer in Ogun State.
The points reports that about four suits had been filed against Adebutu.
Two of the suits were filed by former aspirants – Segun Showunmi and Jimi Lawal, while three PDP members – Taiwo Olabode Idris, Kehinde Akala and Alhaji Ayinde Monsuri, also filed another suit challenging the delegates’ list used in the conduct of the party primaries.
Penultimate Tuesday, a Federal High court sitting in Abeokuta, decided the case filed by the trio and nullified all the primaries conducted by the PDP in the state.
The court also barred INEC from recognising Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Delivering his ruling, Justice OO Oguntoyinbo ordered fresh primaries for all the positions within 14 days.
The fourth suit against the PDP candidate was filed by the ruling APC.
The ruling party had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, seeking the disqualification of Adebutu and his running mate, Adekunle Akinlade, over alleged breach of the electoral act.
Other parties that have their candidates listed for the 2023 governorship race include ADC, SDP, NNPP, NPM, PRP, ADP, APC amongst others.
The Point gathered that the camp of Adebutu was in a serious dilemma over the new development which portends serious danger to the party in the coming election.
Also for the LP, neither the party nor its candidate name was found on the INEC’s list.
For the ruling All Progressives Congress, Governor Dapo Abiodun made the list as the party’s candidate.
Also on the list were, Biyi Otegbeye as candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Oguntoyinbo Femi Ajadi for the New Nigeria People’s Party, among others.
