A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, declared Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the forthcoming Ogun State governorship election.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi, resolved the protracted leadership and candidature dispute that had divided the party into rival factions, each laying claim to the governorship ticket.

Lawal, a close associate of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, secured the legal victory after the court held that his emergence as the party’s candidate complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the ADC constitution.

The suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/97/2026, challenged the legitimacy of the governorship primary that produced multiple factional candidates.

Both Lawal and Dr Collins Ogundipe, an artificial intelligence expert, have been laying claims to the governorship ticket of the ADC following the disputed primary.

In his judgment, Justice Adeyemi ruled that the primary election which produced Lawal was validly conducted and duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court held that the exercise complied with all statutory requirements and remained the only lawful governorship primary recognised under the law.

Consequently, the court declared Lawal the authentic governorship candidate of the ADC in Ogun State and directed INEC to accord him full recognition by reflecting his name in its official records as the party’s flag bearer.

Ogun State Chairman of the ADC, Femi Soluade, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and an opportunity to unite the party ahead of the governorship election.

He expressed gratitude to God for the outcome, saying the court had finally resolved the lingering dispute over the party’s governorship ticket.

On his part, Lawal described the verdict as an act of divine intervention following months of uncertainty over the party’s primary election.

“Alhamdulillah. I am exceedingly grateful to Almighty God. Without God’s grace, nothing is possible. Today’s victory is by His grace,” he said.

He maintained that he had won the primary election convincingly but endured months of anxiety over the dispute.

“I have had sleepless nights since May because I believed I had been cheated. I won on merit. It was not a close contest; it was a landslide. Yet, what was a landslide was turned into a minority.”

Lawal commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice prevailed. (Daily Trust News)

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