ABEOKUTA — The legal battle for the authentic governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State moves to the Court of Appeal this Friday, as the appellate court begins hearing the high-stakes suit involving factional candidates Hon. Jimi Adebisi Lawal and Dr. Biodun Collins Ogundipe.
Tripod Times reports that the case, which has deeply divided the state chapter of the ADC ahead of the upcoming elections, centers on which primary election truly produced the legitimate flagbearer for the party.
The Genesis of the Legal Tussle
The crisis dates back to parallel primary elections conducted by rival factions within the party. While an electoral committee led by Adeniyi Adams initially declared Biodun Collins Ogundipe—popularly known as BCO—the winner with 9,370 votes against Jimi Lawal’s 6,812 votes, Lawal’s camp fiercely contested the legitimacy of that process.
Lawal maintained that his own primary election aligned strictly with the Electoral Act and the party’s official constitution.
The dispute escalated to the Federal High Court in Abeokuta under suit number FHC/AB/CS/97/2026. On July 23, 2026, Justice Abiodun Adeyemi delivered a judgment declaring Jimi Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate. The trial court ruled that the primary election producing Lawal complied fully with regulatory guidelines and valid party structures.
Ogundipe’s Ground for Appeal
Rejecting the High Court verdict, Dr. Ogundipe and his political movement immediately vowed to reclaim their mandate at the appellate level.
At the center of Ogundipe’s appeal is a leadership technicality regarding the Ogun State ADC chairmanship during the primaries. Ogundipe’s camp relies heavily on an official letter dated July 1, 2026, signed by the ADC National Legal Adviser, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.
The letter stated that the tenure of former state chairman Otunba Femi Soluade had expired in May 2026, making any primary conducted under that specific factional leadership unauthorized.
Ogundipe has repeatedly urged his supporters to remain calm, expressing absolute confidence that the Court of Appeal will reverse the lower court’s decision and restore his candidacy.
As legal teams from both factions file into the appellate court today, party faithful and political observers in Ogun State wait with bated breath.
The outcome of today’s hearing will heavily shift the political landscape and finally determine who steers the ADC wheel in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
