The Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has rejected claims of financial wrongdoing against its State Chairman, Olufemi Soluade. The party called the allegations misleading, unfounded, and baseless.
Adesina Olanrewaju, the Director-General of Media, Communications and Publicity for the party, shared this on Wednesday during a briefing at the party secretariat in Itoko, Abeokuta, the state capital.
A group reportedly filed a petition with the national leadership of the party, accusing Soluade of mishandling funds meant for nomination forms ahead of the 2027 elections.
Olanrewaju stated that the party reviewed the allegations in the petition and found no proof that the state chairman diverted funds meant for the purchase of nomination forms by aspirants. He mentioned that records show the payments went directly into an account set up by the ADC National Secretariat.
He said, “The claim that funds sent by aspirants were diverted or personally received by the State Chairman is false and misleading.
“For clarity, the monies referred to by the petitioners were funds meant strictly for the purchase of nomination forms by aspirants of the party. Major leaders of the party were aware of this arrangement, and there is clear evidence, including payment records and receipts, showing that the funds were paid into the officially designated ADC National Secretariat account.”
The party criticized the petitioners for contradicting themselves. They noted that the same individuals recognized Soluade as the rightful state chairman while trying to challenge his leadership.
The DG added, “It is therefore both curious and contradictory that the same individuals now seek to promote a parallel structure and alternative leadership arrangement outside the constitutionally recognized organs of the party.
“One cannot simultaneously recognize a chairman and attempt to undermine his office through unauthorized structures.”
On the matter of distributing nomination forms, the party mentioned that a self-proclaimed Deputy National Financial Secretary, Mr. Oladimeji Fabiyi, got an initial batch of forms from the party’s National Secretariat. However, he did not give most of them to the state leadership for distribution.
Olanrewaju explained that only about 10 out of roughly 50 forms were released, despite efforts from the National Organising Secretary's office to intervene. This situation caused worries among aspirants as the deadline for obtaining nomination forms drew near.
Some aspirants then requested that payments be sent through the state chairman, who was already at the National Secretariat to help with the process. Olanrewaju explained, “The suggestion by some aspirants to transfer the funds through the State Chairman was not because of any personal arrangement or financial control, but because at that period, between May 10 and May 17, Otunba Olufemi Soluade was physically present at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja to facilitate and obtain another set of nomination forms for aspirants from Ogun State.”
“Available information shows that Mr. Oladimeji Fabiyi, who identifies himself as Deputy National Financial Secretary, was at the National Secretariat and obtained the first set of nomination forms through the office of the National Organising Secretary.
“Rather than releasing the forms to the State Chairman upon his return from the National Secretariat for proper coordination and distribution to aspirants, the forms were kept by Mr. Fabiyi despite several interventions from the office of the National Organising Secretary. These claims are verifiable in the office of the National Organising Secretary.”
The party also mentioned that out of about 50 nomination forms obtained, only about 10 were released. This situation raised serious concerns, especially as the deadline for getting nomination forms was getting closer. Some House of Assembly aspirants suggested that their payments for nomination forms be sent through the State Chairman, who was already managing the process at the National Secretariat.
Olanrewaju also highlighted that a parallel group within the party disrupted plans for the presidential primary in Ogun State. He said, “It is also saddening to reveal that there was no presidential primary election in Ogun State. This was because of the parallel group these fellows instituted, who went to presidential aspirants to defraud them.”
The party insisted it has documents, including payment records, receipts, dates, and names of aspirants, which disprove the allegations in the petition. Olanrewaju added that internal checks showed some individuals listed as petitioners were not recognized members of the ADC in Ogun State.
“Reports from the party’s membership verification process indicate that the names of some of those behind the petition do not appear in the official membership database of the party. This raises serious questions about the authenticity and motive behind the petition,” he said.
The party has sent an official report on the matter to the National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary of the ADC for necessary action.
Olanrewaju reaffirmed support for Soluade’s leadership, saying the state executive is committed to transparency, accountability, and party unity. He added, “We therefore urge members of the public, ADC members, and stakeholders in Ogun State to disregard misleading information capable of causing unnecessary division within the party.
“The leadership of Otunba Olufemi Soluade and the State Working Committee remains committed to fairness, justice, accountability, and the progress of the African Democratic Congress.”
The party also asked journalists to verify information about the ADC through its official communications directorate before publishing.
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