By Adekunle Oluwafunmilayo
Stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the party’s State Chairman, Otunba Dr. Femi Soluade, resulting in his immediate suspension from office.
The resolution was reached at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta, where party leaders, ward executives, and representatives from across the state convened to assess recent developments and the state of internal cohesion within the party.
In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting today stakeholders cited alleged administrative lapses, a breakdown of internal unity, and actions considered inconsistent with the party’s constitution as grounds for the loss of confidence in the suspended chairman. They emphasized that the unanimous decision was taken in the interest of restoring discipline, unity, and credibility to the ADC’s structure in the state.
“After exhaustive deliberations, stakeholders resolved unanimously that Otunba Dr. Femi Soluade no longer enjoys the confidence of the party leadership in Ogun State,” the communiqué stated. “He has therefore been suspended with immediate effect, pending further investigations and the completion of necessary disciplinary procedures.”
The meeting mandated the State Executive Committee to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to ensure continuity, resulting in the appointment of the State Deputy Party Chairman, Hon. Prince Adedeji Abiodun Babatunde, as Acting Chairman.
The development comes amid a parallel dispute over Hon. Jimi Lawal Suspension yesterday, deepening internal crisis within the ADC in Ogun State, following divisions among executive members over the suspension of Jimi Adebola Lawal, a former aide to ex–Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued after a meeting held on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, Soluade had announced the suspension of Lawal over alleged anti-party activities. He accused Lawal of attempting to monopolise party structures through the purported acquisition of two local government council structures and the dismantling of state and local leadership frameworks.
Soluade claims the action was intended to restore stability within the party and ensure continuity ahead of the forthcoming state congress, the date of which has yet to be announced. He added that party structures in Ijebu Ode and Sagamu, which were allegedly seized during the crisis, had been returned to their original leaders to promote balance and inclusiveness.
He further warned that any attempts to hijack party structures at the state or local levels would be resisted in order to safeguard internal democracy and ensure equal participation among members.
“We have suspended Mr. Jimi Adebola Lawal and declared him a non-member of the party due to activities inconsistent with the principles and internal democratic framework of the ADC,” Soluade stated.
However, in a swift rebuttal, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, disputes the action and rejected the suspension, insisting that the State Chairman lacked the constitutional authority to act unilaterally.
In a rejoinder titled “Notification of the Purported Suspension of H.E. Jimi Lawal and Illegal Appointments,” Onabajo described the action as null and void, maintaining that Lawal remains a bona fide member and leader of the party.
“The constitution of our great party does not empower the State Chairman, acting unilaterally, to suspend any member, let alone a leader of the stature of H.E. Jimi Lawal,” he said. “Any suspension must follow laid-down constitutional procedures, including due process, fair hearing, and ratification by the appropriate organs of the party.”
Onabajo also faulted the declaration of caretaker committees, arguing that the State Chairman does not possess unilateral powers to dissolve duly elected executives or appoint caretaker committees at the state or local government levels without due process.
Efforts to obtain comments from Otunba Dr. Femi Soluade on the latest developments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Despite the unfolding crisis, party leaders at the stakeholders’ meeting reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of the ADC and pledged to work collectively to strengthen the party ahead of future political engagements. Members were urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and loyal to the party’s constitution as internal mechanisms address the disputes.
