A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Topa Olusegun Peter, has raised the alarm over the alleged unauthorised use of his identify as a governorship aspirant forward of the 2027 election.
He stated his identify was used with out his information and consent.
The controversy comes as political actions and alignments forward of the 2027 normal elections collect momentum in Ogun State.
Peter, the Baale of Olorunsogo, Ilara, in Imeko-Afon native authorities space, additionally alleged that the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the council, Ramoni Adebolu, and another APC chieftains approached him with a political supply earlier than his identify allegedly surfaced in newspaper publications as a PDP governorship aspirant.
The conventional titleholder, who addressed journalists in Abeokuta on the weekend, claimed that Adebolu subsequently urged him to stay calm and allegedly promised him monetary advantages, a automotive and a significant political appointment after the emergence of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly often known as Yayi.
Peter, nevertheless, stated he rejected the preliminary political supply and had no information of any association to make him a governorship aspirant underneath the PDP.
The growth took a extra critical flip when Peter expressed concern over a purported petition allegedly written to the Independent National Electoral Commission by a lawyer, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, demanding that the fee publish his shopper’s identify as a governorship aspirant inside 48 hours.
Peter denied realizing or authorising the lawyer to behave on his behalf, calling for an investigation into how his identify was allegedly used within the reported correspondence.
He additionally raised issues about his household’s security, interesting to safety companies and different related authorities to intervene and guarantee their safety.
Narrating his expertise, Peter stated, “I was shocked and deeply surprised to discover that my name had appeared in newspaper publications as a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 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 stated.
Explaining how the controversy allegedly started, Peter stated Adebolu and another APC chieftains contacted him, claiming that they had a political place to supply him.
According to him, the assembly passed off in Ilara, his hometown, the place the politicians knowledgeable him that the proposed place was underneath the PDP however didn’t clarify its exact nature.
He stated 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 under 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 stated 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 informed him to stay calm and promised him monetary advantages and a automotive.
He additional claimed that Adebolu assured him of a significant political place following Adeola’s emergence 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 stated.
Peter’s issues, nevertheless, prolonged past the newspaper publications to the reported petition allegedly submitted to INEC in his identify.
He stated he was deeply troubled by stories {that a} lawyer had written to the electoral fee on his behalf with out his information or authorisation.
The chief particularly denied any relationship with Asemota, the lawyer alleged to have demanded that INEC publish his identify 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 stated.
The PDP Chieftain questioned how paperwork may have been submitted in his identify 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 identities of those that initiated the correspondence and the premise for his alleged use of identify.
“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 stated.
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 identify.
“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 stated.
Although Peter didn’t present particular particulars of any direct menace in opposition to him or his household, he stated the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of his identify had induced him critical concern.
He urged the related authorities to research the matter and convey anybody discovered culpable to justice.
The allegations, if substantiated, may increase questions on using 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 celebration since its formation in 1998 and had by no means defected to a different political platform.
He stated his political allegiance had remained constant over time and that he had no information of or involvement within the purported gubernatorial 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 stated.
He additional said that Hon. Ladi Adebutu emerged as the only real candidate of the PDP within the Ogun State governorship major election held on 24 May 2026, an train he stated he supervised in his ward.
Peter stated the event was one more reason he wished the circumstances surrounding the reported governorship aspiration clarified.
He 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 stated.
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