Court affirms Jimi Lawal as Ogun ADC gov candidate; Ogundipe to appeal

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By James Ogunnaike

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, has affirmed Mr. Jimi Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the forthcoming Ogun State governorship election.

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Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi, in a judgment delivered in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/97/2026, held that the governorship primary election that produced Lawal complied with the Electoral Act, the Constitution of the ADC and all relevant statutory provisions.

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The court further ruled that the primary election was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and remained the only valid and lawful governorship primary recognised under the law.

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Consequently, Justice Adeyemi declared Lawal the authentic governorship candidate of the ADC in Ogun State and directed INEC to recognise him by reflecting his name in its official records as the party’s flag bearer.

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The judgment effectively resolves, at the High Court level, months of legal contest arising from rival governorship primaries conducted by factions within the party, each laying claim to the party’s governorship ticket.

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Reacting to the judgment, the State Chairman of the ADC, Otunba Femi Soluade, described the verdict as “a victory for democracy” and said it had finally laid to rest the lingering dispute over the party’s governorship candidature.

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“I feel elated. I do not take these days for granted, and God has been merciful. Today’s judgment was explicit. His Excellency Jimi Lawal has now been affirmed, and we thank God for the outcome,” Soluade said.

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He stressed that the party would now focus on reconciliation rather than division.

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“For us, the soul of the party is what is most important. We have decided that there will be no victor and no vanquished. We must be magnanimous in victory because those on the other side remain our brothers and sisters,” he stated.

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According to him, the party would immediately embark on rebuilding its structures and reconciling aggrieved members ahead of the governorship election.

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“We will begin to rebuild. We will reawaken the sleeping giant. This is the moment many people have been waiting for, and the time has come.”

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Expressing optimism about the party’s electoral prospects, Soluade added; “You can take it to the bank that we shall prevail. We have been preparing long before this dispute arose. Now that the issue has been resolved, we will strengthen our structures, propagate the ideals of the party and reach out to more people. The ripple effect of today’s judgment will soon become evident.”

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Speaking shortly after the judgment, Lawal described the court’s decision as an act of divine intervention after months of uncertainty surrounding the party’s governorship primary.

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“Alhamdulillah. I am exceedingly grateful to Almighty God. Without God’s grace, nothing is possible. Today’s victory is by His grace,” he said.

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Lawal maintained that he had won the party’s primary election convincingly but was subjected to months of anxiety following the dispute.

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“I have had sleepless nights since May because I believed I had been cheated. I won on merit. It was not a close contest; it was a landslide. Yet, what was a landslide was turned into a minority,” he said.

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He commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice prevailed, describing the disagreement as “a family affair” that was resolved through lawful means.

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Calling for reconciliation, Lawal urged all stakeholders to unite ahead of the governorship election.

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“This victory belongs to all of us in the ADC. We need a united family because we have a formidable ruling party to confront. We cannot afford to remain divided.”

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He also extended an olive branch to his main challenger, Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe.

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“I have reached out to Dr. Ogundipe before, during and after the primary. I remain ready to work with him. I bring experience, while he brings the energy of youth. Together, we can move the ADC forward.”

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According to him, genuine reconciliation remains the only path to presenting a formidable alternative to the ruling party in the state.

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“If we truly have the interest of the party and the people of Ogun State at heart, then the only way forward is unity.”

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…Ogundipe rejects judgment, heads to Appeal Court

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However, Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe has rejected the judgment and disclosed that he would challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

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In a statement issued shortly after the judgment, Ogundipe said he respected the authority of the court but remained convinced that the evidence before the court supported his case.

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“While I and my supporters respect the authority of the court and the judicial process, we remain confident in the strength of our case and the evidence presented before the court,” he stated.

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Ogundipe argued that one of the key documents tendered before the court was a letter dated July 1, 2026, signed by the National Legal Adviser of the ADC, which, according to him, confirmed that Otunba Femi Soluade was no longer the Ogun State Chairman of the party at the time the governorship primary election was conducted.

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He further maintained that Soluade’s tenure had expired before the primary and that he was never elected substantive state chairman but only served in an acting capacity.

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“Our position is that the facts, evidence and documents presented before the court clearly demonstrate the circumstances surrounding the leadership status of the party at the time of the primary election. We believe that the truth will ultimately prevail through the appropriate legal process,” he said.

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The governorship aspirant disclosed that the party’s national legal team and his personal legal team were studying the judgment and would immediately commence the appeal process.

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“I appeal to all my supporters, party faithful and members of the BCO movement to remain calm, focused and united. There is no need for panic or unnecessary anxiety.

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“The National ADC legal team and our team are currently studying the judgment in detail and will take the necessary appeal steps to ensure that justice is served.

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“The mandate freely given by party members at the primary election will be protected and restored through lawful means.”

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At the centre of the legal dispute is the status of the Ogun State chairman of the ADC at the time the governorship primary election was conducted.

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Ogundipe’s camp relied on a letter dated July 1, 2026, signed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, which stated that Otunba Femi Soluade’s four-year tenure expired on May 19, 2026, and that he had ceased to hold office as state chairman by May 22, 2026.

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The letter further stated that any representation suggesting Soluade remained chairman as of that date “is inaccurate and does not reflect the official records or position of the party.”

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