Topa Peter: Disowns Lawyer Over Ogun Governorship Bid

• PDP chieftain Topa Peter has publicly disavowed any intention to run for governor of Ogun State in the 2027 election.
• Peter alleges his name was used without his consent by a lawyer who demanded INEC include him on the candidate list.
• Lawyer Anderson Asemota had given INEC 48 hours to explain the omission of Peter's name from the final list published on October 10, 2026.
• Peter claims his purported aspiration followed a meeting with APC chieftains who offered him an unspecified political position under the PDP.
• He explicitly stated he never purchased a nomination form, signed any documents, or authorized anyone to represent him in a governorship bid.

He unequivocally stated that he had neither purchased a governorship nomination form nor signed any document expressing an intention to contest, nor had he authorized any individual to act on his behalf in this capacity.

Topa Peter, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a respected leader within the Olorunsogo community in Ilara, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, has vehemently denied any involvement in a governorship bid. Mr. Peter publicly refuted media reports that identified him as an aspirant for the 2027 gubernatorial election under the PDP platform, asserting that his name was utilized without his explicit knowledge or consent. This unexpected development has cast a spotlight on the integrity of political processes and the representation of candidates.

The controversy intensified following actions taken by a legal practitioner, Anderson Asemota of Neplus Ultra Attorneys. According to various media outlets, Mr. Asemota issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding an explanation for the purported omission of Mr. Peter's name from the final list of candidates for the governorship election scheduled for February 6, 2027. The lawyer, who claimed Mr. Peter as his client, also insisted on the immediate publication of Mr. Peter's name as the legitimately nominated candidate for the party, threatening legal action against the commission if his demands were not met.

Mr. Peter disclosed that his purported aspiration surfaced after a meeting with Mr. Ramoni Adebolu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, along with other APC chieftains. He recounted that these political figures approached him with an unspecified political offer during a meeting held in his hometown of Ilara. During this encounter, the politicians informed him that the position they intended to offer was associated with the PDP, but they refrained from disclosing its precise nature.

Despite the vague offer, Mr. Peter stated that he immediately conveyed his disinterest, emphasizing that any legitimate political proposition should originate from his own party, the PDP. He expressed profound surprise and shock when, shortly thereafter, he encountered newspaper publications that listed him as a PDP governorship aspirant. Upon discovering these reports, Mr. Peter promptly contacted Mr. Adebolu, who reportedly advised him to remain calm and assured him that he would reach out to PDP leaders to clarify the situation, denying any knowledge or involvement in the alleged governorship aspiration.

In his public statement, Mr. Peter unequivocally stated that he had neither purchased a governorship nomination form nor signed any document expressing an intention to contest, nor had he authorized any individual to act on his behalf in this capacity. He underscored his unwavering loyalty to the PDP, having been a consistent member since the party's inception in 1998, and affirmed that he has never defected to any other political party. Furthermore, he explicitly denied receiving any financial compensation from the individuals involved in the aforementioned discussions.

This incident unfolds against the backdrop of INEC's publication of the final list of governorship candidates on October 10, 2026, which notably excluded the name of Oladipupo Adebutu, who was the PDP's recognized governorship candidate in Ogun State. The lawyer's letter to the INEC chairman, dated October 14, 2026, demanding Peter's inclusion, thus appears to be a direct response to this broader omission, albeit with a client who claims to be unaware and unauthorized. The situation highlights the critical importance for legal representatives to meticulously verify client instructions and the authenticity of claims, especially in high-stakes political scenarios involving electoral bodies.

Lawyers must exercise extreme diligence in verifying client instructions and the authenticity of claims before initiating legal action, particularly in politically sensitive matters involving electoral bodies, to avoid acting on behalf of an unwilling or unaware party and facing potential professional and reputational repercussions.

Source: Reporting based on initial media accounts.