Fresh controversy is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State following claims that the names of several of its 2027 candidates are missing from the party’s authentic membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

An examination of the register obtained for this reporter shows that while some candidates have their names on the document, others contesting for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly are not listed.

The development has raised questions about compliance with the Electoral Act and the possible implications for the affected candidates and the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

On the governorship list, the name of Ladi Adebutu did not appear on the register examined.

However, the names of the three senatorial candidates, Iyabo Obasanjo for Ogun Central, Omotayo Oluwafemi Abdulwaheed for Ogun East and Ogunola Babatunde for Ogun West — are listed as absent from the document examined.

For the House of Representatives, Adekoja Adesegun Abdulmajid of Ijebu East/Ijebu North/Ogun Waterside, Jones Olumide Akintunde of Ewekoro/Ifo and Amuzu Oluwatoyin Anthony of Abeokuta South are among those whose names appear on the register.

Those listed as absent include Ogunbanjo Wale Anthony for Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu; Adeshina Adigun Emmanuel for Yewa North/Imeko-Afon; Agemo Okuboyejo for Ado-Odo/Ota; Oluwole Bolarin for Remo North/Ikenne/Sagamu; Olaleye Oladele for Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode/Odeda; and Afolabi Oluwatade Jeremiah for Egbado South/Ipokia.

The State House of Assembly list also presents a mixed picture.

Among those whose names appear on the register are Bello Aderemi of Odeda, Shodipe Tobi of Obafemi Owode, Idowu Abiodun Issa of Ewekoro, Kuye Omobolaji of Ijebu North II, Oludaisi Yusuf Abiodun of Ijebu Ode, Adeniye Sulaimon of Ikenne and Ogundele Jacob of Egbado South.

Those whose names are not found on the document include Majekodunmi Olufunbi, Adeoye Adewale Adeniran, Oyebande Moruff Kehinde, Ayoade Tunde Kunle, Agbolade Oladapo Olayemi, Adeboye Badejo, Anifowose Yomi, Adewale Solomon Damilola, Oyesanya Kehinde Adebambo, Oluwole David Olutayo, Ibitayo Olufemi Anthony, Adeagbo Rasaq Adigun, Ogunbiyi Philips Oluwatobi, Mautin Oluwatosin Gbehosu and Omoroga Abayomi.

The issue assumes added significance following recent judicial pronouncements on political parties and membership registers.

The Electoral Act requires political parties to maintain a membership register and make it available to INEC within the period prescribed by law. The Supreme Court has also recently interpreted the consequences of non-compliance with the membership-register provisions.

The court’s position, as reported in the recent judgment, is that failure to comply with the statutory requirement does not automatically amount to the personal disqualification of an individual candidate. Rather, the consequence may affect the political party’s eligibility to field candidates.

This distinction is important because the mere absence of an individual’s name from a document should not, without more evidence, be reported as an automatic disqualification from the 2027 election.

The legal question is whether the party complied with the Electoral Act, whether the relevant register was properly submitted to INEC within the prescribed period, and whether the nomination process complied with the law.

The controversy is not limited to the PDP.

Bolaji Marie Odusina, who has been presented as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ogun State, is also reportedly absent from the party register examined.

The development therefore raises a broader question about the relationship between political parties’ membership records, their primary processes and the candidates subsequently presented for election.

For now, the documents examined raise questions rather than provide a final legal determination on the status of the affected candidates.

With the 2027 elections approaching, attention is expected to focus on the authentic registers lodged with INEC, the records used during the parties’ primaries and the courts’ interpretation of the Electoral Act.

The ultimate significance of the controversy will depend on what the certified INEC records contain and whether the political parties can demonstrate compliance with the statutory requirements.

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to host an Interfaith Praise and Prayer Concert to seek divine blessings upon the reelection bid of President Bola Tinubu, the Governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) and Senatorial ambition of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The concert is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Ake Palace in Abeokuta.

Tagged the “Vision 2027 Concert,” the event brings together Christian and Muslim worshipers to offer prayers and thanksgiving for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the party, the concert was planned as a platform for thanksgiving, unity, and spiritual guidance for the party’s political leadership and the nation as the 2027 campaign season approaches.

“As we look ahead, it is important that we pause to give thanks to God for His faithfulness and seek His guidance for the journey before us,”

The APC has also extended the concert invitation to party faithful, supporters and well-wishers from different denominations across Ogun State to unite in prayer.

As Nigerians prepare to celebrate the country’s 66th Independence anniversary, the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, has declared that citizens now have more reasons to celebrate, expressing support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and saying Nigeria is gradually moving towards economic recovery under the current government.

Oba Kuoye stated this on Tuesday at his palace in Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, during a press conference to mark his 5th coronation anniversary.

Oba Kuoye hinged his assertion on what he described as a reduction in political tension and gradual improvement in economic activities.

“Before, people would be saying, do we need to celebrate, and what are we celebrating? But now we have a lot to celebrate. The political tension is coming down. Nigeria is getting interesting and we people are really enjoying it”, the monarch declared.

The traditional ruler said the impact of ongoing federal government projects, particularly road reconstruction and rehabilitation, could be seen along major routes linking communities in Ogun State and other parts of the country.

According to him, a trip through Atan, Agbara, Olorule-Meji and Imeko-Afon along the coastal highway would provide evidence of the infrastructure development taking place under the Tinubu administration.

Oba Kuoye, who disclosed that he had been involved in politics under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he had always admired President Tinubu because of what he described as his political track record and ability to groom other people.

The monarch acknowledged that the economic reforms being implemented by the administration could take time to produce widespread benefits, stressing that there was no magic formula for transforming the country within a short period.

According to him, previous administrations had made efforts to manage the economy, but the present administration was attempting to fundamentally restructure it.

He, however, expressed optimism that the economy would improve significantly in the coming years.

“Nigeria is better than where it was since Asiwaju Bola Tinubu became president. I want you to take a ride through Atan, Agbara, Olorule-Meji and Imeko-Afon on the coastal highway and follow the line to see what is happening there.

“Tinubu is now reconstructing and rehabilitating roads, and he is putting the Nigerian economy on a prosperous path. It might look like something small to us, but he is bringing the Nigerian economy onto the right path”, he said.

He added that, “Since when I was in the Peoples Democratic Party as a politician, I have loved President Bola Tinubu because of his track records. He is a politician. If we have about 10 of him in Nigeria politics, this country would have been better than this because he has been grooming people, and he doesn’t want to know you before he helps you.”

“I want to tell you, yes, it might be too difficult to get there in four years because there is no magic. But to discover that Tinubu is getting it right in Nigeria, I want to tell you that in the next five years things will turn better,” he assured.

He also cited improved electricity supply as one of the developments he said Nigerians could observe, saying there had been no need to use a generator.

“We have been here almost two, three hours. The light is okay. We are not using generator. It is electricity. It is part of it because the megawatts that is generating electricity for us is increasing,” he said.

The traditional ruler also used the occasion to advise Nigerian politicians to avoid desperation for political positions, stressing the importance of accepting that leadership positions are ultimately determined by God.

Recalling his own political experience as a former Vice Chairman of Ado-Odo Local Government, Ogun State, Oba Kuoye said he declined an opportunity to continue in political office after his tenure.

He said he later applied for employment and was eventually appointed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), arguing that politicians should prepare themselves for life beyond elective or political appointments.

According to him, having an alternative career or source of livelihood would reduce desperation and unhealthy rivalry among political actors.

Oba Kuoye urged politicians to return to their businesses and professions after completing their appointments or elective positions instead of continuously struggling for political office.

He further urged political actors to respect the timing of leadership, saying no individual should believe that attaining political power must be achieved by all means.

“Every politician must have a second address. If you have a second address, you will take it lightly. You will not be fighting, you will not be maligning personalities, you will not be decreasing yourself if you have a second address,” he said.

“Politicians should go back to their business after the appointment or end of their elective positions, not that you apply in the office, you struggle to have another one. You must have a second address,” he advised.

“I want everyone, the political actors, they must know that it is God that ordains. If it is not their turn today, tomorrow it will be their turn,” the monarch added.