* Urges AGF to probe allegations of perjury, forgery
Alex Enumah in Abuja
A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, has alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr Ladi Adebutu, to compromise a Federal High Court listening to of his swimsuit searching for to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to embrace his identify as a candidate of the PDP within the 2027 governorship election within the state.
Besides, Arabambi has referred to as on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to examine Adebutu over alleged perjury and forgery of court docket paperwork.
Adebutu is the PDP’s candidate within the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
However, his identify was excluded from the listing of governorship candidates launched by INEC on the grounds that his nomination violated provisions of the electoral legal guidelines.
Following INEC’s determination, Adebutu then approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, to problem the exclusion of his identify from the listing of certified candidates to contest in subsequent 12 months’s governorship election in Ogun State.
The swimsuit was subsequently assigned to Justice Peter Lifu, who has mounted November 13, for judgment after taking arguments from all events.
INEC had, in his response to the swimsuit, informed the court docket that the identify of the plaintiff was not listed as governorship candidate as a result of his identify was not contained within the listing of registered member of the PDP submitted to the fee in keeping with Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Arabambi claimed that Adebutu, in a supporting affidavit to his originating summons, swore to particular serial numbers and particulars within the PDP membership register, purporting to set up that he was a bona fide member of the get together.
“INEC’s counter affidavit, deposed to by Mustapha Mohammed of the ICT Department, dismantles Adebutu’s case. The flash drive Adebutu exhibited in court docket incorporates about seven PDF information with serial numbers working up to 33,104 members. But the flash drives initially submitted to INEC on April 22, 2026, and subsequently, comprise information numbered solely up to 19,308 members. The contents should not the identical. The doc Adebutu positioned earlier than the court docket shouldn’t be the doc INEC acquired.
“The specific serial number Adebutu swore belonged to him—Serial Number 1536—actually belongs to one Lugboso Sunday Seun. INEC’s searches of the authentic registers found no match for Adebutu’s name whatsoever,” the LP National Vice Chairman South-west mentioned.
He argued that for a litigant to method the Federal High Court and swear to an affidavit containing demonstrably false particulars is perjury, including that it’s an affront to the administration of justice.
“The evidential weight towards Adebutu shouldn’t be merely unfavourable, it’s devastating.
“It appears the camp is fully aware of this reality. We can now reveal that their initial plot to improperly influence INEC hit a brick wall last in Court 10 under Hon Justice Peter Lifu o Thursday the 5th Day of November 2026 .The commission, standing firm on the facts and the law, unequivocally maintained its position against Adebutu’s claims. It is because their attempt to manipulate the commission failed that they have now shifted their focus to an alleged desperate bid to buy the judgment itself,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Arabambi claimed that his camp has acquired intelligence from Ogun State that calls for the pressing consideration of the Attorney General of the Federation (ATF, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
“We are in possession of credible intelligence—correspondence circulating inside their camp, which reveals a premeditated plot to subvert the course of justice. This intelligence explicitly states {that a} senior advocate with an alleged direct entry to the presiding decide has been engaged to ‘close the deal,’ and that preparations have been made with key officers to make sure the case flows of their favour. The intelligence additional confirms that big sums of cash have been expended to pacify influential political figures and to compromise sure nationwide commissioners and authorized departments inside INEC.
“These individuals consider the judgment is nearly as good as received, and they’re already planning a mega rally for it, alongside a coordinated media assault, to have a good time a judgment that has not but been delivered.
“This is a preemptive victory celebration born of a sinister conviction that the case has already been procured.
“I don’t make these allegations evenly, nor do I current them as mere hypothesis. I’m obligation sure to carry this intelligence to the eye of the related authorities in order that the integrity of the bench won’t be compromised by corrupt politicians and will also be protected.
“We are due to this fact calling on the Attorney General of the Federation to provoke a direct investigation into the allegations of perjury arising from Adebutu’s affidavit, and into this brazen plot to pervert the course of justice. We are calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to take judicial discover of those threats and to place the court docket on excessive alert.
“These political actors from Ogun State must not be allowed to operate under the illusion that the temple of justice can be purchased. The Nigerian public is watching. The judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man, not a marketplace for the highest bidder,” he added.
