The Ogun State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly rejected claims that it disowned Biodun Collins Ogundipe as its 2027 governorship candidate and instead endorsed Jimi Lawal, calling the reports false and misleading. The party insists that Ogundipe won the governorship primary election held in the state, with official results showing he polled 9,370 votes, ahead of Jimi Lawal’s 6,812 votes and Marie Odusina’s 2,349 votes. The Electoral Committee Chairman, Adeniyi Adams, declared Ogundipe the winner following a transparent collation process.
The ADC clarified that while a re-run was conducted in certain areas during the collation to ensure fairness and credibility, this did not constitute a fresh or separate primary election. According to Olumide Onabajo, the state publicity secretary, the re-run was merely a continuation of the same electoral process, agreed upon by all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the vote. The party emphasized that only one primary election was held, and all three aspirants—Ogundipe, Lawal, and Odusina—participated in it.
Despite the official declaration, a report circulated online on Wednesday claimed the state leadership had no knowledge of the primary that produced Ogundipe as the candidate. The report further alleged that Ogundipe was being manipulated by unnamed individuals to destabilize the party and sabotage its chances in the 2027 general election. The ADC dismissed these claims as baseless and politically motivated, accusing certain individuals of attempting to distort the facts.
The party also pointed out that those who announced Jimi Lawal as the winner were not members of the legally constituted Electoral Committee. It stressed that no unauthorized declaration could override the official result announced by the committee vested with the responsibility. The ADC questioned why Lawal, if truly the undisputed winner, had initiated legal proceedings against the party, Ogundipe, and INEC.
The ADC urged all stakeholders to allow the courts to resolve the matter rather than resort to media propaganda. It reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, due process, and the rule of law. The party called on members and the public to ignore misleading narratives designed to rewrite history, noting that the dispute is already before a competent court. The ADC remains confident that justice will prevail, and the outcome of the primary will be determined through legal channels, not public misinformation.
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