By John Dike , Osogbo
…Demands withdrawal of Ogun PDP National Assembly candidates allegedly affected by membership register disput
The Egba Integrity Group (EIG) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a seven-day ultimatum to review the eligibility of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates in Ogun State over alleged selective enforcement of a Supreme Court judgment on political party membership registers.
The group accused INEC of applying the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment on compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 to governorship candidates while allegedly exempting National Assembly candidates from the same requirement.
EIG said the commission’s decision following its meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2026, raised concerns about consistency and equal application of the law, particularly in its handling of candidates sponsored by the PDP in Ogun State.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo at the weekend, signed by Otunba Osikoya Thompson, the group insisted that INEC must comply with the Supreme Court judgment without discrimination between candidates contesting different elective positions.
It cited the judgment in INEC v. ZLP, suit number SC/CV/495/2026, delivered on September 24, 2026, which it said affirmed the mandatory nature of Section 77(5), (6) and (7) of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to the group, the provisions require political parties to submit their authentic membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period of April 21 to May 10, 2026, arguing that failure to comply affects the validity of candidates sponsored by such parties.
EIG maintained that the requirement applies to all elective positions, including governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.
The group, however, alleged that INEC adopted different standards in reviewing governorship and National Assembly candidates.
It claimed that while the commission applied the membership register requirement in considering governorship candidates, including the rejection of Ladi Adebutu, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, it retained Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the party’s candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District, and other PDP National Assembly candidates.
The group also referred to the cases of Isa Pantami of the PDP in Gombe State and Abdulsalam Gwarzo of the New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, whom it said were conditionally cleared.
Describing the alleged disparity as discriminatory, EIG argued that the same party membership register could not be considered defective for one category of candidates and acceptable for another.
“Section 77 does not distinguish between Governor and Senate.
The register is one. If the register is invalid for Governor, it is invalid for Senate,” the group said.
It further argued that INEC had no discretion to selectively apply the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law, warning that the National Assembly candidates’ list published by the commission on October 10, 2026, could face legal challenges if candidates allegedly affected by the disputed register were retained.
“The PDP Ogun register cannot be bad for Adebutu but good for the party’s National Assembly candidates,” the group stated.
EIG called on INEC to apply the Supreme Court judgment to the National Assembly candidates’ list by withdrawing the names of candidates it alleged were not contained in the authentic PDP membership register submitted to the commission.
The group said its seven-day ultimatum was intended to compel the electoral body to address what it described as unequal treatment and ensure compliance with the law.
It threatened to pursue contempt and mandamus proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, if INEC failed to meet its demand within the stipulated period.
The group specifically referenced suit number FHC/AB/CS/117/2026, involving Sogbesan Amoo against INEC and others, saying it would seek a declaration that the October 10 National Assembly candidates’ list was invalid to the extent that it included candidates allegedly not contained in the authentic party register.
EIG urged INEC to ensure that its decisions on candidates’ eligibility were guided by the same legal standards, regardless of the political office being contested.
