Political Shake-Up: El-Rufai’s Associate Wins Fierce ADC Governorship Ticket Contest In Ogun

A Federal High Court in Abeokuta has declared Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal as the valid governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the forthcoming Ogun State governorship election, ending months of internal disputes over the party’s ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi held that the primary election which produced Lawal complied with the Electoral Act and the ADC Constitution, and was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ruling, in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/97/2026, resolved the prolonged contest over the party’s governorship ticket, which had seen Lawal and artificial intelligence expert, Dr. Collins Ogundipe, both laying claim to the ADC candidacy.

Lawal, a political ally of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, secured the legal victory after the court ruled that his emergence followed due process and remained the only lawful governorship primary conducted by the party.

Justice Adeyemi consequently declared Lawal the authentic ADC governorship candidate and ordered INEC to recognise him as the party’s standard-bearer and update its official records accordingly.

Reacting to the judgment, Ogun State ADC Chairman, Femi Soluade, described the verdict as a triumph for democracy and a turning point for the party.

He said the ruling had finally settled the lingering controversy surrounding the governorship ticket and called on members to put aside their differences and work together ahead of the election.

Lawal welcomed the judgment, describing it as a divine intervention after months of uncertainty over the disputed primary.

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

The ADC candidate maintained that he won the primary election convincingly but had endured months of anxiety after the result became the subject of controversy.

“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,” Lawal said.

He also praised the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice was served.