Ogun ADC rejects caretaker committee, parallel leadership

The Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has rejected the purported establishment of caretaker committees and the appointment of parallel state leadership structures, insisting that the executive committee led by Oluwafemi Soluade remains the legitimate leadership of the party in the state.

The party, in a statement issued on Saturday, accused unnamed political actors of attempting to undermine its established structures through what it described as arbitrary administrative decisions, political intimidation and disregard for constitutional procedures.

The statement, signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Adesina Olanrewaju, also cautioned that no individual, regardless of political influence or position within the party, had the authority to unilaterally impose a caretaker committee on the state chapter.

Taking a direct swipe at what it described as political arrogance and attempts to impose leadership arrangements, the party declared that the Ogun State ADC would resist any move to dismantle its existing executive structure outside constitutionally recognised procedures.

“Ogun State is not a political playground, neither is the ADC in Ogun State anybody’s personal estate where decisions can be imposed through arrogance, intimidation or unilateral administrative pronouncements.

“The purported caretaker arrangements constituted a threat to internal democracy and the rule of law, particularly if they are undertaken without the necessary constitutional approvals and authorisation from the appropriate national organs,” the statement said.

Reaffirming its position on the leadership question, the Ogun ADC said the executive committee led by Oluwafemi Soluade remained the structure whose legitimacy and tenure it recognised and intended to defend.

According to the statement, an elected party leadership could not be discarded merely because some influential individuals favoured a different political arrangement.

“An elected party structure cannot be conveniently discarded because certain individuals have suddenly developed an appetite for a different leadership arrangement.

“You cannot build a political party on the foundation of democracy and subsequently destroy that same foundation because the existing leadership does not serve the political interests of certain individuals,” the statement added.

Related News

• Evening recap: Atiku vows subsidy return, Keyamo tackles Dickson, other top stories
• 2027: Atiku promises to restore fuel, electricity subsidies if elected
• 2027: Katsina PDP gov candidate promises free medical treatment for residents

The party further warned against the creation of parallel leadership structures, arguing that such arrangements could generate confusion, weaken established institutions and undermine members’ confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes.

In justifying its position, the Ogun ADC cited judicial pronouncements which it said affirmed the subsisting tenure of elected state party executives and restricted the conduct of congresses outside the party’s constitutional framework.

It referred to Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, in which the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, reportedly delivered judgment on April 29, 2026, affirming the subsisting tenure of ADC state working and executive committees.

According to the statement, the court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by the caretaker leadership. It also held that the caretaker or interim National Working Committee lacked the constitutional authority to appoint committees to conduct such congresses.

The Ogun chapter further disclosed that the decision was challenged at the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal and upheld the restrictions against congresses organised outside the party’s constitutional framework.

It also cited a November 3, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, presided over by Justice U.N. Agomoh, in Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/50/2026.

The party said the court declared the purported interim executive committee led by Afeez Adelowo Jimoh illegal and affirmed the four-year tenure of the Yinka Olona-led Oyo State Executive Committee.

The Ogun ADC argued that the judicial decisions reinforced the need for political parties to respect their constitutions and comply with court orders rather than allow individual interests to override established procedures.

“These judicial pronouncements cannot be treated as suggestions that individuals can obey whenever convenient and disregard whenever politically uncomfortable.

“The judiciary is not a decoration. Court judgments are not political recommendations. The rule of law is not subject to anybody’s personal interpretation or convenience,” the statement declared.