ADC Ogun faction crisis deepens as rival congresses produce parallel leaders, exposing internal power struggle ahead of the 2027 elections
The African Democratic Congress African Democratic Congress is facing a deepening internal crisis in Ogun State, where parallel congresses have produced rival leadership structures in what is now a bitter struggle for control ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The widening division reflects the broader instability within the ADC as it positions itself as a “second force” in Nigerian politics following the weakening of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In Ogun State, two separate congresses were held on the same day, producing two different executives laying claim to legitimacy under the same party structure.
The development has triggered a fierce dispute over constitutional authority and leadership recognition.
One faction, led by Femi Soluade, held its congress at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, returning a leadership team that includes Babatunde Adedeji as deputy chairman and Olumide Onabajo as publicity secretary.
The session was conducted by Moshood Salvador with supervision from party legal representatives.
However, a parallel congress was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, where national officials led by Hon. Olatunji Soyinka announced a different executive list, declaring Emmanuel Famojuro as the authentic state chairman.
Soyinka insisted that the congress followed party guidelines and reflected a harmonised national agreement, stressing that only decisions taken at the recognised congress would stand.
“The new state chairman will be Mr. Emmanuel Famojuro,” Soyinka declared, adding that the process was legitimate and binding under party rules.
The Famojuro-led faction has accused the Soluade camp of internal sabotage and mismanagement, alleging that the leadership turned the party into a transactional platform and discouraged credible aspirants from participating in elections.
They further claimed that unresolved internal disputes and alleged intimidation weakened party cohesion ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
In response, the Soluade faction rejected the claims, describing the rival congress as illegitimate and procedurally flawed.
Soluade insisted he remains the authentic chairman, dismissing the parallel gathering as a “kangaroo election” lacking constitutional backing.
He maintained that his leadership remains recognised and affirmed by due process, insisting that no factional arrangement can override the party’s official structure.
In a fresh twist, Olumide Onabajo, initially listed in both executive outcomes, has now aligned with the Famojuro-led faction after earlier acknowledging the Soluade congress.
He cited reflection and internal consultations as reasons for his decision.
Onabajo’s defection is being viewed as a significant shift in the ongoing power struggle, further strengthening the Famojuro camp amid escalating tensions within the Ogun chapter.
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The crisis underscores a broader challenge within the ADC, where competing claims of legitimacy and internal distrust continue to threaten its ambition of presenting a unified opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
