Ogun ADC crisis deepens as rival factions trade claims of legitimacy

By Lateef Ibrahim

A fresh leadership crisis appears to be brewing within the Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as rival factions lay claim to the party’s structure following parallel congresses held on Saturday.
Factional chairman, Femi Soluade, insisted that the party remains united and properly structured, dismissing reports of division within its ranks.
Soluade, who was returned as chairman during a state executive congress chaired by Moshood Salvador, said the process followed due procedure and produced a legitimate leadership. Other officials elected at the congress include Babatunde Adedeji as Deputy Chairman and Agbebiyi Olusoji as Secretary.
He maintained that the swearing-in of the executives, conducted by the state legal adviser, Femi Aina, underscores the party’s commitment to democratic principles and institutional growth in the state.
However, a parallel congress reportedly held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library produced a separate leadership, with Emmanuel Famojuro emerging as chairman.
The congress, said to be aligned with the faction led by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, was coordinated by Olatunji Soyinka, who presented what he described as a harmonised list of executives agreed upon by stakeholders.
Reacting, Soluade rejected the outcome of the parallel exercise, describing it as a “kangaroo election” that failed to comply with the party’s constitutional provisions and guidelines.
He declared the process null and void, insisting that only the congress held under his leadership remains valid.
Despite the dispute, the party called on aggrieved members to set aside differences and rally behind what it described as the duly recognised leadership, in a bid to strengthen its position ahead of future political engagements.