Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Democratic Congress in Ogun State has firmly rejected reports that its Ogun East Senatorial District structure collapsed into the All Progressives Congress in support of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, the APC's governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The party's state leadership on Monday, August 3, 2026, described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that the individuals who defected acted strictly in their personal capacities and that the party's structure across the nine local government areas in Ogun East remains fully intact, operational, and committed to strengthening the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The controversy erupted after reports circulated on Monday alleging that the ADC Ogun East Senatorial District structure had, over the weekend, decamped to the APC to work for Yayi's gubernatorial ambition. The reports, which were carried by multiple news outlets, named Dr Erinle Opeoluwa, ADC Chairman in Ijebu North East, who also serves as chairman of all ADC chairmen in Ogun State, as the leader of the defection. Opeoluwa was quoted as saying that the defectors were tired of playing opposition politics with nothing to show for it over three election cycles, leaving many of them worse off in Ogun State. The reports listed ten individuals as having crossed to the APC, including Kazeem Adebanjo of Ijebu North LGA, Dehinsilu Olusegun of Ikenne LGA, Gbade Oluwasegun of Ijebu Ode, Shittu Titilola of Ijebu East LGA, Omooba Kazeem of Sagamu LGA, Adegoroye Osubukola of Remo North LGA, Salisu Abdulwaheed of Odogbolu LGA, and ADC chieftains Ibidunni Adetola and Yemi Macauley, both from Ijebu Ode. The defectors reportedly made their position known during an interactive session with groups seeking to work with the senator, who is aspiring to secure the APC governorship ticket.
However, reacting swiftly on Monday, the ADC State Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, rejected the narrative, stating that the report did not reflect the true position of the party. Onabajo insisted that the ADC remained "united, functional, and firmly committed to winning the forthcoming elections in the state," and stressed that no collapse of its structure had occurred in the Ogun East district. He explained that a political party's structure comprises constitutionally recognized leadership, executives, and organs at ward, local government, senatorial and state levels, not merely individual members or chieftains. "For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals reported to have joined the APC acted strictly in their personal capacities. Their decisions do not represent the position of the African Democratic Congress, nor do they amount to a collapse of the party's structure in Ogun East," Onabajo stated. He added that ADC structures across the nine local government areas in Ogun East "remain intact, operational, and committed to strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general elections."
The ADC image maker accused those behind the report of deliberate misrepresentation intended to create "a false impression of political reality" in the senatorial district. He urged members, supporters, and the general public to disregard the narrative, saying the ADC "remains focused, united, and resolute in providing a credible alternative for the people of Ogun State."
The development comes as political consultations and realignments continue to gather momentum across Ogun State ahead of the 2027 governorship contest. Senator Adeola, who has been endorsed by Governor Dapo Abiodun as the APC's consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election, has been actively courting support from various groups across the state. The defecting ADC leaders, who cited Adeola's record of attracting infrastructure and empowerment projects to Ogun State despite not being governor, have pledged to work for his victory. Adeola, responding to the defectors, assured them that they would be accommodated within his campaign structure and that his political platform would be inclusive and open to all residents of Ogun State willing to contribute to his vision for the state's development.
While the ADC has dismissed the defections as personal and not a reflection of the party's structural integrity, the loss of ten local government chairmen and prominent chieftains from Ogun East represents a significant setback for the party's grassroots mobilisation efforts in a key senatorial district. The ADC, which is positioning itself as a credible alternative to the ruling APC in Ogun State, has been working to consolidate its support base ahead of the 2027 elections, and the defection of these leaders could weaken its presence in the Ogun East Senatorial District. However, the party's leadership has made it clear that it will not be deterred by the defections and remains committed to providing a credible alternative for the people of Ogun State. As the 2027 election season approaches, the battle for the soul of Ogun State's opposition politics is intensifying, and the ADC's ability to retain its structure and mobilise its remaining supporters will be critical to its electoral prospects.
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