The governorship primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State descended into controversy after two separate exercises produced different winners within 24 hours.
The crisis erupted on Monday as parallel primaries reportedly held by different factions of the party declared both Jimi Lawal and Biodun Ogundipe as winners of the ADC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
DAILY POST gathered that one result was announced at the party’s secretariat, while the second declaration took place at Basic Trust International, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The party had earlier cleared three aspirants for the contest — Jimi Lawal, Abiodun Collins Ogundipe, popularly known as BCO, and U.S.-based pediatrician, Dr. Marie Bolaji Odusina.
The primary election was reportedly conducted across the 236 wards in Ogun State over the weekend.
At the party secretariat, the National Organising Secretary of the ADC and Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Election Committee, Barrister Adebimpe Adelowo, announced that Jimi Lawal secured 19,418 votes to emerge winner of the exercise.
According to the results announced, Ogundipe polled 5,775 votes, while Dr. Odusina recorded 4,825 votes.
Adelowo declared Lawal the duly elected governorship candidate of the party for the 2027 general election, insisting he remained the recognised National Organising Secretary of the ADC.
However, in a conflicting development, another electoral committee led by Adeniyi Adams declared Biodun Ogundipe winner of the primary election.
The committee stated that Ogundipe scored 9,370 votes, defeating Lawal, who allegedly polled 6,812 votes, while Dr. Odusina secured 2,349 votes.
Speaking after being declared winner, Ogundipe urged party members to unite and work together ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
“We are one family in ADC. This is the time for reconciliation and unity so we can deliver good governance to the people of Ogun State,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the aspirants, Dr. Marie Odusina, rejected the outcome of the exercise and petitioned the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, alleging widespread irregularities during the primary.
The U.S.-based doctor claimed the process violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, and democratic principles guiding party primaries in Nigeria.
Odusina alleged that voting took place at multiple locations within the same wards, contrary to standard electoral guidelines requiring a single polling centre per ward.
She also accused the electoral committee of lacking impartiality and complained that aspirants were not properly informed about guidelines, voting procedures, accreditation processes, and collation methods before the exercise.
According to her, voting reportedly continued in parts of Ogun West long after polls had closed in other areas of the state, further raising concerns about the credibility of the process.
Odusina subsequently called for a fresh governorship primary supervised by a new and neutral electoral committee.
She warned that failure by the party to address the alleged irregularities could force her to seek legal redress.
“My participation in the race was driven by my desire to contribute to good governance in Ogun State through service and issue-based politics,” she stated.
Earlier in May, some concerned ADC members from Ogun East Senatorial District reportedly petitioned the party’s national leadership, demanding the disqualification of Jimi Lawal from the primary election.
The petitioners referenced an ongoing corruption case allegedly instituted against Lawal by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), arguing that his candidacy could negatively affect the party’s chances in the election.
Reacting to the controversy, Ogun State ADC Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, maintained that Biodun Ogundipe remained the authentic governorship candidate of the party.
He dismissed the parallel declaration of Jimi Lawal as invalid and misleading, insisting that Adeniyi Adams and Babatunde Moshood were the officially recognised chairman and secretary of the electoral committee sent by the party’s national leadership.
Onabajo urged party supporters and the public to disregard what he described as fabricated election results.
Meanwhile, Ogun State ADC Chairman, Femi Soluade, distanced himself from the conduct of the governorship primary.
According to him, he was neither part of the election committee nor directly involved in organising the exercise.
“I don’t have full details at this moment because I was not the secretary of the governorship primary election committee. Appropriate clarification will be made after further consultations,” Soluade stated.
He added that party leaders would engage stakeholders to review the controversy and address concerns surrounding the conduct of the primary election.