The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State of being afraid of a competitive election, following the omission of the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, from the list recently published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, made the allegation during an interview with The Arena, an Abeokuta-based multi-topic podcast.

She alleged that the circumstances surrounding Adebutu’s omission suggested that some political actors were more interested in eliminating opposition than winning elections through the ballot box.

The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health described the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, warning that allowing powerful political interests to manipulate electoral processes could undermine the country’s democratic system.

Obasanjo said she initially dismissed reports of Adebutu’s omission because INEC had already published the lists of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates.

However, she said subsequent inquiries into the matter raised questions about why Adebutu’s name was missing when other PDP candidates had completed the same processes.

“What is it that Honourable Ladi did differently from what we did? And when I asked that question, I have a scientific mind. The answer was, he did the exact same thing, right? That we all did,” she said.

“The next question is then why is his name not in the list?”

According to her, further investigations suggested that political opponents had taken steps to influence the situation, an allegation she described as illegal.

She maintained that no satisfactory explanation had been provided for Adebutu’s omission, expressing confidence that his name would eventually be restored.

“His name is going to be back (on the list),” she said.

The PDP candidate argued that the controversy extended beyond Adebutu and the fortunes of her party, warning that allowing candidates to be removed through questionable means could set a dangerous precedent.

“If this happens, then a democracy will crash because everybody that is a money bag will go to Abuja and give the neutral institution money to remove anybody they think can beat them,” she said.

“And so the idea is that, can one man’s desperation to be governor, can we allow us to kill our democracy?”

Obasanjo urged Nigerians to see the controversy as a broader test of the country's commitment to democratic principles, stressing that democracy depended on adherence to established rules and respect for electoral competition.

“It is not even about Honourable Adebutu, it’s not about PDP, it’s about the democracy Nigeria runs,” she said.

She warned that repeatedly violating democratic rules could eventually undermine the system those rules were designed to protect.

“But every time you keep breaking rules, it eventually leads to the end of that experiment. And you don’t know which rule will break it,” she added.

Dismissing suggestions that the controversy could weaken the PDP's electoral chances in Ogun State, Obasanjo expressed confidence that the party would remain strong and that Adebutu's name would be restored.

“No. Our people are firm in what they want to do. I believe Honourable Ladi’s name will be back,” she said.

She argued that the controversy could instead expose what she described as the ruling party's fear of facing a competitive election.

Obasanjo also expressed optimism about the PDP's prospects in Ogun State, citing the party's historical appeal and what she described as the quality of governance under former Governor Gbenga Daniel, popularly known as OGD.

She said some residents were beginning to appreciate the former administration more, arguing that its record of public service remained an important part of the party's appeal.

According to her, the PDP's past performance in government could help it regain voters' confidence.

The former senator further argued that Nigerians were not inherently bad but that the political system often encouraged conduct that undermined effective public service.

“Our people are not bad. The political system has made people become what we believe is this crass system, but if we are able to elevate our political system, the people will go along with us,” she said.

She added that the love and respect she had received from her constituents remained among the most rewarding aspects of her political career.

On her previous defection to the APC and subsequent return to the PDP, Obasanjo said she had no regrets about joining the ruling party, insisting that she did so in good faith.

She explained that her decision was influenced partly by her relationship with President Bola Tinubu and their previous political interactions.

“I joined APC in good faith. So I have no regrets,” she said.

However, she criticised the APC's handling of its candidate-selection process in Ogun State, arguing that its approach to consensus-building had alienated some aspirants and party members.

According to her, a genuine consensus arrangement should involve all aspirants in discussions, enabling them to understand and collectively accept the outcome.

She maintained that political parties could not expect to win elections after disregarding the interests and concerns of their members.