Members of the African Democratic Congress from the Ogun East Senatorial District have sent a petition to the party’s National Secretariat, requesting the disqualification of governorship contestant Otunba Jimi Lawal due to charges of corruption.
The petitioners appealed to the Chairman of the Governorship Screening Committee, ADC, National Secretariat, Abuja, on Sunday, urging the party leadership to disqualify Lawal from the upcoming governorship primary.
The petitioners, Olabisi Omolaso, Haruna Owolabi, Keshiro Daniel, Ezekiel Abidemi, Onamuyiwa Olumuyiwa, and Ibrahim Aliyat contended that endorsing a candidate encumbered by legal disputes and integrity concerns would significantly undermine the party’s electoral prospects in Ogun.
says that the petition dated May 17, 2026, and received at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on May 18, emphasised an ongoing criminal case initiated against Lawal by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among other entities.
The petition states, “ADC cannot maintain its image as a credible alternative political platform while simultaneously awarding its governorship ticket to a candidate currently undergoing criminal prosecution and encumbered by unresolved allegations related to corruption, money laundering, abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated criminal proceedings against Otunba Jimi Lawal at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, under Charge No. FHC/KD/16C/2025.
Otunba Jimi Lawal was indicted along Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited on charges of money laundering and the illicit transfer of public monies.
Otunba Jimi Lawal has apparently been associated in investigations related to the contentious N10.8 billion Kaduna State CCTV Security Project, for which new criminal charges have allegedly been filed by the ICP against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and others.
This accusation is especially troubling considering the CCTV initiative pertained to public security equipment designed to safeguard lives and property. Any accusation pertaining to diversion, embezzlement, or fraudulent management of public security funds engenders significant moral and ethical apprehensions regarding suitability for public service.
“Esteemed members, the ramifications of exonerating Otunba Jimi Lawal amidst these significant controversies are substantial:
It will undermine the anti-corruption reputation of ADC.
It would provide opposing parties with perilous propaganda materials; it will diminish public trust in our party, it will depict ADC as a sanctuary for politically exposed individuals confronting corruption claims, and may ultimately jeopardise our party’s electoral prospects in Ogun State,” they added.
Nigerians require leaders who are reliable, truthful, and morally upright, rather than those linked to corruption and financial problems.
They, however, insisted on his disqualification pending the resolution of all charges and investigations against him, contending that the party should not compromise its integrity, public image, and future political prospects for the aspirations of any individual.