Aggrieved Ogun ADC Members Protest Over Party Crisis, Petition National Body
Aggrieved members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State have protested against the alleged manipulation of candidates list for the general polls.
The members, mostly youths and women from the 20 local government areas in the state.
The protesting party members armed with placards bearing various inscriptions to expressed their displeasure over the division in the party.
ADC youth leader in Abeokuta North Local Government, Comrade Kazeem Baiyewu, who is the leader of the group, said their demands had been written in a petition to be submitted to the national leadership of the party through the state executive.
According to him, the continued disagreement in the party have created confusion, wakened confidence among party members, saying that it has distracted the party from its common goals.
He added that the State and National Working Committee must urgently wade into the ugly development in the party and investigate the issues surrounding the Ogun State gubernatorial primary election.
Baiyewu insisted that the party leadership must clarify the authentic party structure in the state, and provide clear direction to all members and stakeholders.
The petition reads "We, concerned members and stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, write to respectfully draw your attention to the ongoing crisis within our party in the state and to seek urgent intervention before the situation causes further division and damage to our party.
"The continued disagreement and uncertainty have created confusion, weakened confidence among party members, and distracted the party from its common goals.
"If urgent steps are not taken to address this crisis, it may further damage the unity, stability, and electoral prospects of the party in Ogun State. We respectfully call on the national leadership to intervene promptly and restore peace, fairness, and order within the party.
"Our concern stems from developments surrounding the Ogun State gubernatorial primary election. One of the aspirants, Mr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe - popularly known as BCO, joined the party and met an already existing party structure with recognized leaders and stakeholders.
"However, it appears that rather than working within the established structure, he created a parallel structure and sought to replace the leadership he met upon joining the party. His actions were facilitated and funded by Mr. Dimeji Fabiyi, who claimed to be the Deputy National Financial Secretary of the party.
"Meanwhile, we understand that the Congress elections from which their parallel structure emerged was declared null and void by a judgement of Justice
"Abdulmalik of Federal High Court, Abuja; thereby making the existence of the parallel structure patently illegal, if not outrightly contemptuous of the ruling by the Federal High Court.
"Furthermore, it is alleged that they conducted a separate gubernatorial primary election outside the Constitution, guidelines and procedures approved by the party. We understand that this exercise was not conducted in accordance with the officially recognized party process and was reportedly held without the presence of INEC observers. Despite this, they allegedly declared BCO the winner and gubernatorial candidate of the party.
" Their shenanigans directly resulted in a petition that was addressed to the National Chairman and ultimately led to the resignation of the third aspirant - Dee Doc from the party.
"On the other hand, other aspirants participated in the primary process recognized by the party, from which Mr. Jimi Lawal (JAL) emerged as the gubernatorial candidate. Since the conclusion of the primary election, the party in Ogun State has remained deeply divided, creating uncertainty among members, supporters, and stakeholders regarding the future direction of our great party.
"We are therefore calling on the National Leadership and the National Working Committee to urgently intervene, investigate the issues surrounding the Ogun State gubernatorial primary election, clarify the authentic party structure in the state, and provide clear direction to all members and stakeholders.
"Our appeal is made in the interest of peace, unity, justice, and the progress of ADC in Ogun State. We remain loyal to the constitution, rules, and guidelines of our party and believe that only the intervention of the national leadership can restore confidence and stability.
Other pettitioners names are Soliu Faleye, Fatai Sonde, Abosede Ogunbanjo, Faith Akinyemi, Folarin Abiola
Receiving the petition, the ADC Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Hon. Sunday Lukman, who spoke on behalf of the State chairman, Otunba Olufemi Soluade, commended the party members for adoption the internal mechanism to present their grievances.
He urged them to be calm, saying that the party will not fail them ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The LG party chairman said that there is no crisis in the party, saying that the Otunba Olufemi Soluade remains the chairman of the party and Hon. Jimi Adebisi Lawal remains the only governorship candidate of ADC.
He said "we understand our youths and we want to thank them for organizing peaceful protest, they showed their anger, they said they are not happy about the crisis ravaging the party, they said they dont want two State chairmen and two governorship candidates and we have told them that we have only one State chairman who is Otunba Olufemi Soluade and the ADC governorship candidate is Hon. Adebisi Jimi Lawal and the only ADC party Secretariat is located here in Itoko, June 12.
"We have explained better to them and we assure them that the party will not fail them, Nigerians are tired of this government, there is hunger everywhere. ADC stands take over in 2027" he concluded
Other party leadership members in attendance include Chief Owolabi Adesina State leader, Comrade Adepegba Oladipupo,, state youth leader, Mr Adedayo Okanlawon, state leader, comrade rabiu oladeinde, state leader, comrade sobola busayo, Ogun Central senatorial leader
