The Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has insisted that the executive committee led by Otunba Oluwafemi Soluade remains the legitimate leadership of the party in the state.
The party warned against attempts to impose a caretaker committee or create parallel leadership structures, describing such moves as a threat to internal democracy and its constitution.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Adesina Olanrewaju, the chapter said no individual, regardless of political influence, had the authority to remove an existing leadership structure without following the party’s constitutional procedures.
It specifically mentioned Chief Rauf Aregbesola, insisting that he and other individuals could not unilaterally impose a caretaker arrangement on the state chapter.
“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 statement said.
The party maintained that its elected executive committee could not be dissolved simply because some individuals wanted a different leadership arrangement to serve their political interests.
It also warned that it would not recognise any parallel leadership structure created outside the party’s constitution.
The chapter cited court decisions on disputes over caretaker committees and the tenure of elected party executives.
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It referred to a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on April 29, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, which it said affirmed the tenure of ADC State Working and Executive Committees.
The party also said the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against the judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026.
It further cited a November 3, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which declared the purported interim executive committee led by Afeez Adelowo Jimoh in Oyo State illegal and affirmed the four-year tenure of the Yinka Olona-led executive committee.
The Ogun chapter said the judgments reinforced the need for party leaders to respect constitutional provisions and court decisions.
It also cited Articles 2, 12, 13, 17 and 18 of the ADC Constitution, which deal with the supremacy of the party’s constitution, the composition and functions of its organs, tenure of office and election of party officers.
“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 added.
The chapter called on the national leadership of the ADC to intervene and prevent what it described as attempts to undermine the party’s elected structure in Ogun State.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders to respect existing court decisions and the party’s constitutional provisions.
