Ogun ADC in crisis as parallel primaries produce Ogundipe, Lawal as governorship candidates

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By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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The Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been thrown into deepening internal crisis following the emergence of two governorship candidates from parallel primaries conducted by rival factions in Abeokuta ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The two factions, which addressed journalists separately on Monday, announced Collins Ogundipe and Jimi Lawal as winners of parallel governorship primaries held across the 20 local government areas of the state.

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In one of the exercises, conducted under the supervision of a six-member Ogun ADC Governorship Primary Committee chaired by Adeniyi Adams, Collins Ogundipe was declared the party’s governorship candidate. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly present during the process.

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Three aspirants—Jimi Lawal, Collins Ogundipe, and Abolaji Odusina—contested in the primary.

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Announcing the results, the committee said Ogundipe polled 9,370 votes to emerge winner, defeating Lawal, who scored 6,812 votes, while Odusina garnered 4,349 votes.

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However, in a separate development, a rival faction of the party conducted its own primary election and declared Jimi Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate.

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The faction said its exercise was supervised by the Secretary of the Ogun Primary Election Committee, Adebimpe Elijah Adelowo.

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According to results announced by the group, Lawal secured 19,418 votes to win the contest, while Ogundipe polled 5,775 votes and Bolaji Odusina scored 4,825 votes.

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Both factions confirmed that their respective results and election materials have been forwarded to the national leadership of the ADC in Abuja for review, ratification, and further action, deepening uncertainty over the party’s governorship ticket in the state.

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