James Sowole in Abeokuta
As the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ogun State continues to tug the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, from the checklist of contestants, a chieftain of the occasion, Topa Olusegun Peter, has raised the alarm over the alleged unauthorised use of his title as a governorship aspirant forward of the 2027 electionS.
Peter, who’s the Baale Olorunsogo, Ilara in Imeko Afon Local Government Area of the state, insisted that he by no means bought a nomination kind or authorised anybody to signify him within the purported political race.
He additionally alleged that the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the council space, Ramoni Adebolu, and another APC chieftains approached him with a political supply earlier than his title allegedly surfaced in newspaper publications as a PDP governorship aspirant.
The conventional titleholder, who addressed journalists in Abeokuta, claimed that Adebolu subsequently urged him to stay calm and allegedly promised him monetary advantages, a automobile and a serious political appointment after the emergence of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly referred to as Yayi.
Peter, nonetheless, mentioned he rejected the preliminary political supply and had no data of any association to make him a governorship aspirant within the PDP.
The improvement took a extra severe flip when Peter expressed concern over a purported petition allegedly written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by a lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, demanding that the fee publish his shopper’s title as a governorship aspirant inside 48 hours.
Peter denied figuring out or authorising the lawyer to behave on his behalf, calling for an investigation into how his title was allegedly used within the reported correspondence.
He additionally raised considerations concerning the security of his household, interesting to safety businesses and different related authorities to intervene and guarantee their safety.
Narrating his expertise, Peter mentioned: “I was shocked and deeply surprised to discover that my name had appeared in newspaper publications as a governorship aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, an aspiration I know absolutely nothing about.”
The PDP chieftain insisted that he had neither expressed an intention to contest the governorship election nor signed any doc to that impact.
“I wish to emphasise here, again, that I never purchased a governorship nomination form, signed any document expressing an intention to contest the governorship election, or authorised anyone to act on my behalf in this regard,” he mentioned.
Explaining how the controversy allegedly started, Peter mentioned Adebolu and another APC chieftains contacted him, claiming that they had a political place to supply him.
According to him, the assembly befell in Ilara, his hometown, the place the politicians knowledgeable him that the proposed place was within the PDP however didn’t clarify its exact nature.
He mentioned he instantly rejected the supply, stressing that he was not within the association.
“We met in my hometown, Ilara, and they informed me that the position was in the PDP but did not explain its exact nature. But I told them there and then that I was not interested because such could only come from my party, the PDP,” Peter said.
He mentioned he was subsequently shocked when newspaper publications recognized him as a PDP governorship aspirant.
According to him, he instantly contacted Adebolu to hunt clarification after discovering the publications.
Peter alleged that the APC chairman instructed him to stay calm and promised him monetary advantages and a automobile.
He additional claimed that Adebolu assured him of a serious political place after the emergence of Adeola because the APC’s governorship candidate.
Peter additionally denied receiving cash from Adebolu or any of the opposite people he talked about.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I did not collect any money from the individuals mentioned in this statement,” he mentioned.
Peter’s considerations, nonetheless, prolonged past the newspaper publications to the reported petition allegedly submitted to INEC in his title.
He mentioned he was deeply troubled by stories {that a} lawyer had written to the electoral fee on his behalf with out his data or authorisation.
The baale particularly denied any relationship with Asemota, the lawyer alleged to have demanded that INEC publish his title as a governorship aspirant inside 48 hours.
“I have never spoken with or met the lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, alleged to have written the petition on my behalf,” he mentioned.
The PDP chieftain questioned how paperwork might have been submitted in his title with out his consent, urging the electoral fee to research the matter.
He referred to as for a radical investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported petition, together with the id of those that initiated the correspondence and the premise on which his title was allegedly used.
“I therefore call for a thorough investigation into how my name came to be used in this manner and how documents were submitted in my name without my knowledge,” Peter mentioned.
Amid the unfolding controversy, Peter expressed fears over his security and his household, calling on safety businesses and different related authorities to intervene.
He appealed to Nigerians and well-meaning people to assist guarantee their safety, whereas urging the authorities to ascertain the information surrounding the alleged unauthorised use of his title.
“I am appealing to Nigerians, relevant authorities, security agencies, and all well-meaning individuals to come to my aid and help ensure the safety of my life and every member of my family,” he mentioned.
Although Peter didn’t present particular particulars of any direct risk in opposition to him or his household, he mentioned the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of his title had induced him severe concern.
He urged the related authorities to research the matter and produce anybody discovered culpable to justice.
The allegations, if substantiated, might increase questions on the usage of people’ identities in political correspondence and the processes for verifying claims made within the names of potential candidates.
Peter additionally used the briefing to reaffirm his loyalty to the PDP, insisting that he had remained a member of the occasion since its formation in 1998 and had by no means defected to a different political platform.
He mentioned his political allegiance had remained constant through the years and that he had no data of, or involvement in, the purported governorship aspiration.
“I have been a loyal member of the PDP since 1998, the year the party was formed, and I have never defected to another political party. My commitment to the party has remained consistent throughout the years,” he mentioned.
Peter additional said that Hon. Ladi Adebutu emerged as the only candidate of the PDP within the Ogun State governorship major election held on May 24, 2026, an train he mentioned he supervised in his ward.
He mentioned the event was one more reason he needed the circumstances surrounding the reported governorship aspiration clarified.
The PDP urged INEC to ignore any doc purportedly submitted by him or on his behalf.
“I also urge INEC to disregard any document purportedly submitted by me or on my behalf, establish the circumstances surrounding the fraudulent use of my name, and bring the perpetrators to book,” he mentioned.
The controversy comes as political actions and alignments forward of the 2027 basic elections collect momentum in Ogun State.
