Some leaders and stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress in Ogun East Senatorial District have petitioned the party’s Governorship Screening Committee, urging it to disqualify an aspirant, Otunba Jimi Lawal, from participating in the forthcoming governorship primary election in Ogun State over alleged corruption and money laundering cases.
The petition, dated May 17, 2026, and copied to the National Chairman of the ADC, was jointly signed by six party members, including Olabisi Omolaso, Ezekiel Oluwaseun Abidemi, Haruna Hakeem Owolabi, Keshiro Oluwatobi Daniel, Onamuyiwa Isaac Olumuyiwa, and Ibrahim Hannah Aliyat.
The petitioners alleged that clearing Lawal for the governorship race could damage the credibility and public image of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They claimed that the aspirant was currently facing criminal prosecution instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission before the Federal High Court, Kaduna, over alleged money laundering and unlawful movement of public funds.
According to the petitioners, Lawal was allegedly charged alongside Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa and Solar Life Nigeria Limited in a suit marked FHC/KD/16C/2025.
The petition read partly, “ADC cannot continue to present itself to Nigerians as a credible alternative political platform while simultaneously entrusting its governorship ticket to an aspirant currently facing criminal prosecution and burdened with unresolved allegations bordering on corruption, money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and financial misconduct.”
The stakeholders further alleged that the ICPC accused Lawal of indirectly taking control of Kaduna State Government funds and allegedly moving public funds through the Guaranty Trust Bank Automated Payment System.
They also alleged that public funds were reportedly paid into an account belonging to Solar Life Nigeria Limited, for which Lawal was allegedly the sole signatory.
The petitioners added that the anti-graft agency had reportedly alleged unlawful transfers involving N10m, N47.48m and N7.32m.
The stakeholders also linked the governorship aspirant to investigations surrounding the controversial N10.8bn Kaduna State CCTV Security Project, which allegedly involved former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and others.
“This allegation is particularly disturbing because the CCTV project involved public security infrastructure intended to protect lives and property,” the petition stated.
“Any allegation involving diversion, embezzlement, or fraudulent handling of public security funds raises very serious moral and ethical concerns about fitness for public office.”
The petitioners also referenced controversies surrounding Lawal’s tenure as former Managing Director of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank, alleging that reports over the years linked the collapse of the financial institution to allegations of financial mismanagement.
The stakeholders warned that allowing Lawal to contest under the ADC platform could provide opposition parties with “dangerous propaganda materials” capable of weakening public confidence in the party.
“It will portray ADC as a refuge for politically exposed persons facing corruption allegations,” they added.
The group, therefore, urged the screening committee to disqualify Lawal from the governorship primary pending the final determination of all criminal cases and investigations against him.
“In the interest of justice, accountability, transparency, party credibility and electoral success, we respectfully and strongly urge the committee to disqualify Otunba Jimi Lawal from participating in the Ogun State governorship primary election pending the final determination of all criminal cases, investigations and corruption-related matters against him,” the petition added.
