ADC Governorship Primary descends into controversy in Ogun

By Adejoke Adeleye

A fresh crisis has engulfed the Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after a governorship aspirant, Bolaji Marie Odusina, accused the party of conducting a “secret governorship primary” riddled with irregularities and breaches of democratic procedures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Odusina, a United States-based board-certified paediatrician and registered member of the ADC in Ogun State, petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, demanding a reconduct of the governorship primary election conducted on May 22, 2026.

In the petition made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the governorship aspirant alleged that the exercise was marred by lack of transparency, poor communication, conflicting voting arrangements and alleged bias within the electoral committee.

She claimed she was neither officially informed nor provided with detailed modalities for the conduct of the primary election, including accreditation procedures, voting guidelines, collation centres and timelines.

According to her, the absence of prior communication violated the principles of fairness, equal participation and due process expected in a democratic primary election.

“The conduct of the ADC gubernatorial primary election in Ogun State exhibited several fundamental breaches of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and established democratic principles guiding internal party primaries in Nigeria,” Odusina stated in the petition.

She further alleged that members of the electoral committee were loyalists and associates of another governorship aspirant, Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe, thereby creating what she described as a clear conflict of interest capable of compromising the credibility of the process.

Odusina also alleged that voting took place simultaneously at multiple locations within the same wards, contrary to standard electoral practice requiring designated polling centres for proper monitoring and collation.

“In several instances, voting took place in different locations within the same ward, contrary to standard electoral protocols that require a single designated polling centre per ward,” she said.

The aspirant also questioned the coordination of the exercise, alleging that voting continued in parts of Ogun West long after polls had closed in other sections of the state.

According to her, the irregularities undermined the integrity and transparency of the primary election and could weaken public confidence in the ADC as a viable political alternative in Ogun State.

She warned that failure by the party leadership to address the issues through a fresh and transparent primary election could force her to seek legal redress.

“Should the party fail to address these concerns through an appropriate reconduction, I shall have no alternative but to seek legal redress in the competent courts of jurisdiction to protect the integrity of the electoral process and my rights as an aspirant,” she stated.

Odusina called for the appointment of a new and impartial electoral committee, timely dissemination of guidelines to aspirants and strict adherence to uniform voting procedures across all wards.

Meanwhile, the ADC officially announced the outcome of the governorship primary election at the party secretariat.

The National Organising Secretary of the ADC and Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Election Committee, Adebimpe Adelowo, said the exercise was conducted across the 236 wards of the state.

According to the results announced by Adelowo, Lawal emerged winner with 19,428 votes, while Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe polled 5,775 votes and Dr. Odusina secured 4,825 votes.

Reacting to the controversy, the Ogun State Chairman of the ADC, Otunba Dr. Femi Soluade, said he was not directly involved in the conduct of the governorship primary election because he was not the secretary of the primary election committee.

Soluade, however, acknowledged speaking with Odusina about the exercise and promised to seek clarification from party stakeholders over the complaints raised.

“I am not the Secretary of the governorship primary election but I will respond appropriately. I spoke with her earlier this morning on how the election had been free and fair,” he said.

He added that the party leadership would engage relevant stakeholders to properly review the situation and address concerns surrounding the conduct of the exercise.