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‘INEC Listed All Our Candidates Except My Running Mate and I’ — Adebutu Questions Ogun Governorship Omission

11 Oct 2026 11:19

Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Oladipupo Adebutu has questioned his exclusion from the Independent National Electoral Commission's final list of candidates for the 2027 election, describing the circumstances as troubling. He said the omission was particularly difficult to understand because other PDP candidates seeking legislative offices appeared on the published lists. The development has prompted the opposition party to challenge the commission's decision while maintaining that Adebutu and his running mate remain its duly nominated candidates. Speaking on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Adebutu reacted to the list released by INEC on Saturday, October 10, ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship election in Ogun State. The document, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 13 governorship candidates but excludes Adebutu and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo. The former federal lawmaker said the appearance of PDP candidates for the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, alongside the absence of the governorship ticket, raised serious questions requiring clarification. Adebutu's concerns centre on the apparent difference between the treatment of his nomination and those of other candidates sponsored by the same party. He maintained that the PDP had participated in the nomination process and submitted candidates for several elective positions. The absence of only its governorship ticket, he argued, required an explanation from the electoral commission. The published document confirms that neither Adebutu nor Sowunmi-Kolapo appears among the 13 governorship tickets accepted for Ogun State. INEC did not provide a specific reason for their omission in the list, leaving the party and its supporters uncertain about the administrative or legal basis for the development. The Ogun State PDP has separately accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of exerting pressure on INEC to exclude its candidate. In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, the party alleged that the APC was attempting to undermine its participation in the governorship contest because of concerns about electoral competition. Adebayo maintained that Adebutu had never left the PDP and had completed the party's membership registration requirements within the stipulated period. According to the spokesperson, the candidate obtained a printed membership card, underwent verification and submitted the necessary documentation before the deadline established for electoral nominations. The party urged its supporters to remain calm, expressing confidence that the omission would be addressed through the appropriate process. It also maintained that Adebutu remained its legitimate candidate, notwithstanding his absence from the commission's published document. However, the allegation of political interference remains unsubstantiated. No evidence establishing that the APC directed or improperly influenced INEC's decision was presented in the party's statement. The commission's published list also did not identify political pressure as a reason for excluding the PDP ticket. The controversy follows earlier questions about Adebutu's eligibility arising from allegations concerning the party membership register submitted to INEC. Two civil society organisations, Ogun Democratic Accountability Forum and Elections Integrity Watch, questioned whether his name appeared in the relevant documentation. Elections Integrity Watch claimed that a certified copy of the PDP membership register obtained from INEC did not contain Adebutu's name. The organisation argued that the alleged omission raised concerns about compliance with the legal requirements governing party nominations. The PDP rejected that position, insisting that its candidate was properly registered and that his membership details had been submitted in accordance with electoral regulations. The conflicting claims have not been resolved by the publication of the candidate list. The legal questions have gained significance following a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026. A seven-member panel, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld INEC's appeal concerning provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and candidate nominations. The judgment restored provisions requiring political parties to use membership registers submitted to INEC within the prescribed period before conducting primaries, congresses or conventions. It also reinforced the importance of compliance with the statutory procedures governing the selection of candidates for public office. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court did not specifically disqualify Adebutu through that judgment. Whether his omission resulted from the membership register controversy or another issue remains unclear because INEC has not publicly provided an individual explanation. Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 establishes a procedure for political parties whose nominated candidates are missing from a published list. The provision allows a party to notify INEC in writing within 14 days, with the notification signed by its national chairman and secretary and supported by an affidavit. That provision offers a formal mechanism for addressing omissions, although its application to Adebutu's circumstances will depend on the underlying facts and the steps taken by the PDP. There was no confirmed public information establishing that the party had completed the statutory notification process by Sunday. The controversy has emerged as other political parties prepare for the Ogun governorship election. Among the candidates appearing on INEC's list is Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, representing the APC, alongside his running mate, Kudirat Balogun. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Lawal Jimi Adebisi, and running mate Olutayo Florence Funlola Folake also appear on the list. Their inclusion followed a court order concerning the party's nomination, according to information accompanying the published document. Other parties represented include the Allied Peoples Movement, Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party. The list establishes the candidates presently recognised by INEC but does not determine the outcome of any outstanding legal challenge. The Ogun controversy is not isolated. Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami was also absent from the PDP governorship list in Gombe State, despite emerging from a fresh primary conducted following a court ruling. Pantami's supporters described that omission as a temporary challenge and urged party members to remain calm while efforts continued to clarify the situation. His circumstances differ from Adebutu's, but both developments have drawn attention to candidate nomination procedures ahead of the elections. For Ogun State, the immediate issue remains the absence of a PDP governorship ticket from the final published list despite the party's insistence that it complied with nomination requirements. Adebutu has demanded clarity, while INEC has yet to publicly establish the specific reason for excluding him and Sowunmi-Kolapo. The dispute now centres on whether the omission can be resolved through the Electoral Act's notification procedure or requires further legal intervention. Until the commission provides clarification or a competent court determines any contested issue, Adebutu's candidacy remains absent from the published list, while the PDP continues to challenge that position. 📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews Reporting verified against coverage published October 10–11 by PREMIUM TIMES, PUNCH, The Guardian and TheCable. Premium Times Nigeria +4

‘I Don’t Want to See You Selling Miracle Water or Soap’ — VeryDarkMan Warns Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin Again

11 Oct 2026 11:15

Nigerian social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has renewed his public criticism of Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, warning the cleric against selling religious products advertised as possessing miraculous powers. The latest confrontation follows a video in which Fufeyin expressed concern about divisions among Christians and warned against celebrating attacks on fellow believers. VeryDarkMan responded by insisting that his objections concern the commercial promotion of supposed miracle products rather than the cleric's right to preach. The latest exchange was reported on Thursday, October 1, 2026, after videos involving both men circulated on social media. Fufeyin, founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry in Warri, Delta State, had addressed a controversy involving VeryDarkMan and Apostle Arome Osayi. Referring to criticism previously directed at him, Fufeyin described an experience involving what he called a bullet and warned Christians against similar attacks. VeryDarkMan subsequently responded through his Instagram account, identifying himself as the person being referenced and renewing his opposition to the sale of miracle water and soap. In his response, VeryDarkMan declared, “Na me be the bullet, no problem,” acknowledging the expression used by the prophet. He said his primary concern remained the promotion and sale of religious products presented as having supernatural benefits, including miracle water and miracle soap. The activist maintained that he would continue challenging such activities whenever they came to his attention. VeryDarkMan also criticised Fufeyin's preaching and interpretation of the Bible, although he made clear that those matters were not the principal reason for his intervention. He argued that religious sermons were different from commercial activities involving products marketed with claims of extraordinary healing or other benefits. His comments continued a disagreement that first attracted widespread public attention in 2024. The confrontation followed a video in which Fufeyin urged Christians to demonstrate greater solidarity when religious leaders faced criticism. The cleric expressed concern that some believers appeared to celebrate controversies involving fellow Christians instead of offering support. He maintained that the Christian community should remain united, particularly when individuals associated with the church were experiencing public opposition. Fufeyin specifically referred to his previous experience with criticism and suggested that similar challenges could confront other Christians. He warned against celebrating another person's difficulties, presenting his message as an appeal for unity within the church. His remarks came amid a separate public disagreement involving VeryDarkMan and Apostle Arome Osayi, which had attracted attention online. The prophet's comments did not directly address the scientific validity of miracle products or provide new evidence concerning their advertised properties. Instead, his message concentrated on the conduct of Christians towards one another during controversies. VeryDarkMan interpreted the reference to previous attacks as relevant to his longstanding dispute with the cleric and responded accordingly. The disagreement between the two men became prominent in 2024 when VeryDarkMan questioned products promoted by Fufeyin's ministry. The activist challenged claims associated with items described as miracle soap and healing water, asking whether the products had received appropriate regulatory approval. His criticism focused particularly on the distinction between religious belief and claims made while marketing products to members of the public. VeryDarkMan also called attention to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the federal agency responsible for regulating several categories of consumer products in Nigeria. He questioned whether regulatory approval had been obtained and whether claims about the products' effectiveness could be substantiated. These questions formed an important part of his campaign against what he regarded as misleading commercial practices. The dispute subsequently developed into legal proceedings, with reports indicating that Fufeyin initiated a defamation action seeking substantial damages against the activist. The case attracted attention because it brought together questions concerning reputation, religious expression and public criticism of products associated with a prominent ministry. Reports in September 2026 stated that the cleric had withdrawn the lawsuit, although the precise procedural status requires confirmation from court records. Earlier in the controversy, VeryDarkMan publicly challenged the healing claims associated with Fufeyin's products. In one widely reported episode, he visited a facility accommodating people with disabilities in Abuja and distributed water he said had been obtained from the prophet's ministry. He subsequently questioned whether the product demonstrated the extraordinary effects associated with its promotion. That demonstration attracted considerable attention but did not constitute a controlled medical investigation. The absence of an immediately observable improvement during such an exercise cannot, by itself, establish every property of a product. Equally, claims that a product can treat medical conditions require appropriate evidence and should not be treated as medically established simply because they are associated with religious practices. The controversy therefore extends beyond the personal disagreement between VeryDarkMan and Fufeyin. It concerns the responsibilities of individuals and organisations making commercial claims about products, particularly where those claims relate to health, fertility or other matters affecting vulnerable consumers. Regulatory approval, product safety and evidence supporting advertised benefits are separate questions that require examination under applicable standards. Fufeyin has maintained his religious ministry and public preaching despite the criticism, while VeryDarkMan has continued to challenge practices he considers questionable. Their latest exchange shows that the reported withdrawal of the earlier lawsuit has not ended their disagreement. Neither man's public statements establish wrongdoing by the other, and any disputed commercial or legal claims require evidence before conclusions can be drawn. The renewed confrontation has also highlighted the distinction between freedom of worship and consumer protection. Nigerians are entitled to practise their religious beliefs, while products offered commercially remain subject to relevant laws and regulatory requirements. Religious convictions and medical claims are not interchangeable, particularly when consumers may rely on advertised benefits when making decisions about their health. As the exchange continues, VeryDarkMan's latest position remains that he will oppose the sale of products promoted as having miraculous powers. Fufeyin, meanwhile, has appealed for unity among Christians facing criticism. The disagreement remains a public dispute over religious practices, commercial claims and accountability, with no new court ruling established by the latest exchange. 📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

‘My Resignation Was Not an Admission of Guilt’ — Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji Makes INEC Governorship List Despite Certificate Forgery Trial

11 Oct 2026 11:08

Former Nigerian Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, has been included in the Independent National Electoral Commission's final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State, despite an ongoing criminal case involving allegations of forged academic credentials. The development has renewed scrutiny of the former minister's qualifications, particularly after reports that he submitted a West African Examinations Council result in support of his candidacy rather than relying on the university degree that became the subject of controversy.