Bolaji Marie Odusina, a governorship aspirant in Ogun State, has accused the African Democratic Congress of running a secret primary election that violated basic democratic rules ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Odusina said the party held the primary without proper notice to all candidates and failed to follow its own procedures. He did not specify what irregularities took place or how many other aspirants were affected, but his complaint suggests deep fractures within the ADC's Ogun chapter as it prepares to field a candidate for the governorship race.
The ADC has grown in prominence since the 2023 general elections, when its presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, contested against Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. The party has been working to position itself as a credible opposition force in states where it has structures.
Ogun State, governed by Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, will hold elections in 2027. The ADC's internal crisis now threatens its chances of presenting a united front or building momentum ahead of that contest. Political parties in Nigeria frequently struggle with candidate selection processes, and disputes over primary elections have torn apart party structures in other states.
It remains unclear whether Odusina will challenge the primary result within the party's dispute resolution mechanisms or pursue other remedies. The ADC leadership has not responded publicly to the allegations. How the party resolves this matter will determine whether it can consolidate support in Ogun or whether the dispute fractures its base before the election season gains full momentum.
