Chaos erupted within the African Democratic Congress in Ogun State over the weekend. Two competing sets of primary results sparked a fierce battle for the party's governorship ticket.
Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe emerged as the authentic winner, according to the party's official Electoral Committee.
This declaration directly contradicted an earlier announcement that had favored Jimi Lawal.
Lawal counts former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai among his close associates. His initial victory announcement came from the Ogun State Primary Election Committee secretary.
Barrister Adebimpe Adelowo had declared Lawal victorious earlier in the week. He said Lawal polled 19,428 votes across the state's 236 wards.
Ogundipe trailed with 5,775 votes in that count. Dr.
Marie Abolaji Odusina came third with 4,825 votes.
Based on those numbers, Lawal was named the ADC's 2027 governorship candidate. But that announcement didn't stick.
Adeniyi Adams, chairman of the 11-member Electoral Committee, rejected the results at a press conference in Abeokuta. He insisted only he held authority to announce final outcomes.
According to Adams, the committee's certified tallies told a different story. Ogundipe secured 9,370 votes to win the contest.
Lawal garnered 6,812 votes under the official count. Odusina received 2,349 votes.
The committee chairman explained what happened between the two announcements. Results from Sagamu and Ijebu East local government areas were cancelled.
Alleged overvoting and mutilated result sheets prompted those cancellations. Adams noted the integrity issues during the voting process.
Reruns were conducted in Yewa South and Ado-Odo/Ota afterward. All three aspirants' representatives were present, he confirmed.
"All decisions taken were carried out with knowledge and approval of agents," Adams told journalists. He stressed that the committee followed proper procedure throughout.
Direct primaries across all 20 local government areas produced Ogundipe's victory. Adams declared this the legitimate outcome of the exercise.
He criticized anyone attempting to declare winners outside official channels. "Whatever anyone had done is not authorised," he said bluntly.
Adams had already submitted his complete report to the party's national secretariat. He explained the clarification was necessary to prevent public confusion.
Political disagreements are common, he acknowledged to reporters. Yet he urged ADC leaders and members to remain calm.
Reconciliation among aggrieved aspirants remains possible, Adams suggested. The party remains open to healing its divisions, he noted.
