…Suspension claims, counter-suspensions widen internal party divisions
…South-West leadership rejects move against state chairman
….Crisis threatens party cohesion ahead of 2027 political realignments
By Olubiyi Sosanya
A deepening leadership crisis has engulfed the African Democratic Congress in Ogun State, following a series of conflicting disciplinary actions, restructuring announcements, and counter-statements by rival factions within the party structure.
The crisis gained fresh momentum after the state chairman, Otunba Dr Femi Soluade, announced sweeping restructuring measures, including suspensions, caretaker appointments and revalidation exercises aimed at consolidating party control ahead of an anticipated state congress.
Central to the dispute is the suspension of Jimi Adebola Lawal, a former associate of Nasir El‑Rufai, whom the chairman declared a non-member over alleged anti-party activities and attempts to dominate party structures.
According to the chairman, the disciplinary move followed allegations that Lawal and his allies attempted to control party structures through the acquisition of local government structures and the dismantling of established leadership arrangements.
Soluade further claimed that party structures in crisis-hit areas including Ijebu Ode and Sagamu had been restored to their previous leadership configurations to maintain internal balance and protect inclusiveness.
The chairman also announced the constitution of a caretaker committee to fill vacancies across the State Executive and local government chairmanship positions pending the conduct of a state congress, the date of which is yet to be announced.
Party insiders said the caretaker arrangement was designed to stabilise party operations and prevent a leadership vacuum while membership mobilisation and revalidation exercises continue across the state.
Soluade insisted that interim local government and ward executives would continue to function alongside mobilisation structures coordinated by party leaders assigned to membership documentation and grassroots expansion.
The chairman also disclosed plans to present what he described as evidence of phantom allegations and compromise attempts before a competent court, signalling that the crisis may soon extend beyond party structures into the legal arena.
As part of the restructuring drive, the state media team was suspended pending reconstitution, a move party sources described as an effort to reposition the party’s communication framework amid escalating internal disputes.
The caretaker structure named several officials into acting positions across state and local levels, reflecting what the leadership described as a temporary but necessary administrative intervention.
However, the restructuring move triggered an immediate backlash from another faction of the party, which announced the suspension of Soluade himself following what it described as a unanimous vote of no confidence by the State Executive Committee.
The faction alleged that the committee took the decision after reviewing multiple allegations against the chairman, which it said required urgent disciplinary action in line with party constitutional provisions.
The opposing faction cited an incident allegedly linked to the public declaration event of Lawal’s governorship ambition held at the Intercontinental Hotel Ibara as one of the triggers of the disciplinary process.
According to the faction, the incident raised concerns about party discipline and public order, although the allegations remain contested and untested in any judicial or independent investigative process.
Following the vote of no confidence, the faction announced the appointment of Prince Adedeji Babatunde Abiodun as acting state chairman pending the outcome of investigations by a disciplinary committee.
The committee was reportedly given a 14-day mandate to investigate allegations and submit findings to the State Executive Committee for further action.
The development introduced a third dimension to the crisis when the South-West leadership of the party rejected the suspension of Soluade, describing the move as unconstitutional and lacking due process.
The zonal leadership, under the coordination of Rahman Owokoniran, insisted that disciplinary action against an elected state chairman must follow established constitutional procedures.
The zonal body argued that only properly constituted organs of the party acting within constitutional frameworks possess the authority to suspend or remove elected officials.
The South-West leadership further reaffirmed its recognition of the existing Ogun State leadership structure, urging party members and the public to disregard what it described as unauthorized suspension claims.
In a related reaction, party communication officials at the national level called for restraint and unity, warning that internal disputes could weaken the party’s readiness for future electoral contests.
A statement signed by Babatunde Oke emphasised discipline, institutional processes and unity as core pillars of the party’s ideological foundation.
Meanwhile, Soluade has alleged that certain party actors were attempting to destabilise the state structure by misleading local government officials into endorsing documents linked to the suspension move.
The chairman claimed some officials were allegedly lured into meetings under false pretences before being pressured to sign attendance documents later attached to disciplinary actions.
Political observers say the crisis reflects deeper struggles over structure control, candidate positioning and influence ahead of long-term political calculations towards future elections.
Analysts also warn that prolonged factional conflict could weaken grassroots mobilisation and create uncertainty among party members at ward and local government levels.
Despite the tensions, multiple factions have publicly called on party members to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to party ideals while internal processes continue.
Stakeholders say the eventual outcome of the disciplinary processes and possible court actions may determine the legitimacy of competing leadership claims within the state chapter.
As events continue to unfold, the Ogun ADC crisis is emerging as a key test of internal democracy, constitutional discipline and conflict management within one of Nigeria’s smaller but strategically positioned political parties.
