PDP accuses APC of propaganda over Obasanjo’s 2027 Senate eligibility

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly candidate for Abeokuta South Constituency II, Hon. Adeoye Adewale Adeniran, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spreading misinformation and political propaganda over the eligibility of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo to contest the 2027 Ogun Central Senatorial election.

Adeniran, in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abeokuta, described reports claiming that the Supreme Court had disqualified Obasanjo from contesting the election as “misleading, legally speculative and politically motivated.”

He urged members of the public to disregard the reports, arguing that the Supreme Court judgment being cited in support of the claim neither mentioned Obasanjo nor contained any order barring her from contesting the election.

His reaction followed the Supreme Court’s judgment of September 24, 2026, in a case involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, where the apex court upheld the validity of the disputed provisions and set aside an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal which had voided them.

The provisions in contention included Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2), which principally relate to party membership registers and methods of candidate nomination.

Adeniran, however, maintained that the judgment did not name Senator Obasanjo or make any order disqualifying her from participating in the 2027 Ogun Central Senatorial election.

“The attempt to present that judgment as an automatic disqualification of Senator Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo from the 2027 Ogun Central Senatorial election is factually unsupported, legally speculative and clearly designed to create confusion where none exists,” he said.

He argued that the case before the Supreme Court arose from a dispute between INEC and a political party, stressing that Obasanjo was not a party to the proceedings.

“It is therefore mischievous and intellectually dishonest to transform a judgment in a dispute between INEC and a political party into a purported judicial pronouncement against a particular candidate who was neither a party to the suit nor the subject of the judgment,” Adeniran stated.

The PDP candidate challenged those circulating the alleged disqualification to identify the specific portion of the Supreme Court judgment that mentions Obasanjo or contains an order preventing her from contesting the election.

According to him, the judgment dealt with the interpretation and application of specific provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and did not constitute a ruling against Obasanjo’s candidacy.

“What exists is a Supreme Court judgment on the constitutionality and operation of specified provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. This, however, has nothing to do with our candidate, who has never ceased to be a member of the PDP.

“What does not exist is a Supreme Court judgment disqualifying Senator Iyabo Obasanjo.”

Adeniran further alleged that the controversy was an indication of growing concern within the APC over the political profile of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He alleged that the APC had resorted to what he described as propaganda after recognising that political arguments alone could no longer contain the PDP’s growing acceptance across the state.

The PDP candidate said the party’s candidates at various levels, from the governorship to the State House of Assembly, were prepared to offer residents of the State an alternative to what he described as years of hardship under the APC administration.

He said the party’s campaign would go beyond political slogans, with its candidates expected to present policies and programmes targeted at addressing challenges confronting residents.

Adeniran said the PDP’s agenda would prioritise economic opportunities, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment, security and support for businesses and vulnerable citizens.

According to him, the party’s candidates are determined to harness Ogun State’s human and material resources, expand opportunities for residents and restore public confidence in government.

He added that the PDP was committed to providing what he described as purposeful leadership anchored on a clear vision and practical development plans for the state.