A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Topa Olusegun Peter, has disowned reports listing him as a governorship aspirant for the 2027 elections under the party, alleging that his name was fraudulently used by leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Topa, who is the Baale of Olorunsogo, Ilara, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, declared that he never purchased any governorship nomination form nor signed any document indicating interest to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
Addressing a press conference in Abeokuta on Saturday, the party chieftain said he was shocked to see his name in newspaper publications as a PDP governorship aspirant, an aspiration he knows nothing about.
Topa explained that the APC Chairman in Imeko-Afon Local Government, Mr. Ramoni Adebolu, alongside some chieftains of the ruling party, had contacted him about a position they wanted to offer him.
He revealed that they met in Ilara and informed him that the position was under the PDP but did not disclose its exact nature.
“I told them there and then that I was not interested because such could only come from my party, the PDP,” he said.
Topa said to his surprise, his name later appeared in publications as a governorship aspirant under the PDP.
He pointed out that Adebolu urged him to remain calm and promised him financial benefits and a car when he confronted him about the development.
He further alleged that he was promised a major political position after the emergence of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
Topa said upon discovering the development, he immediately reached out to his PDP leaders to dissociate himself from the purported aspiration.
He stated, “Seeing what they had done with my name, I became concerned and reached out to my PDP leaders to explain the situation and make it clear that I had no knowledge of, or involvement in the purported governorship aspiration.”
“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.”
“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,” he stated, adding that he did not collect any money from those mentioned.
Topa also raised alarm over a petition allegedly written in his name by one Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys, saying he has never met nor spoken with the lawyer.
He called for a thorough investigation into how his name was used and how documents were submitted in his name without his knowledge.
The politician appealed to Nigerians, security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of his life and that of his family members.
Topa reaffirmed that Hon. Ladi Adebutu emerged as the sole candidate in the Ogun PDP governorship primary election of May 24, 2026, an exercise he said he supervised in his ward.
He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard any document purportedly submitted by him or on his behalf and to bring the perpetrators to book.
