Concerned members of the African Democratic Congress from the Ogun East Senatorial District have petitioned the party’s National Secretariat, demanding the disqualification of a governorship aspirant, Otunba Jimi Lawal, over corruption allegations.
The members in the petition addressed the Chairman, Governorship Screening Committee, ADC, National Secretariat, Abuja, on Sunday, urged the party leadership not to clear Lawal for the forthcoming governorship primaries.
The petitioners, Olabisi Omolaso, Haruna Owolabi, Keshiro Daniel, Ezekiel Abidemi, Onamuyiwa Olumuyiwa, and Ibrahim Aliyat argued that presenting an aspirant heavily burdened with legal battles and integrity issues would severely jeopardize the party’s electoral fortunes in Ogun.
DAILY POST reports that the petition dated May 17, 2026 and received at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on May 18, highlighted an ongoing criminal prosecution instituted against Lawal by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among others.
Part of the petition reads, “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 Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has already instituted criminal proceedings against Otunba Jimi Lawal before the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in Charge No. FHC/KD/16C/2025.
“Otunba Jimi Lawal was charged alongside Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited over allegations relating to money laundering and unlawful movement of public funds.
“Otunba Jimi Lawal has also reportedly been linked to investigations surrounding the controversial N10.8 billion Kaduna State CCTV Security Project for which fresh criminal charges were reportedly filed by the ICP against 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. Any allegation involving diversion, embezzlement, or fraudulent handling of public security funds raises very serious moral and ethical concerns about fitness for public office.
“Distinguished members, the implications of clearing Otunba Jimi Lawal despite these overwhelming controversies are enormous:
It will damage the anti-corruption credibility of ADC; It will hand opposition parties dangerous propaganda materials; It will weaken public confidence in our party, It will portray ADC as a refuge for politically exposed persons facing corruption allegations and may ultimately jeopardize the electoral fortunes of our party in Ogun State” they added.
According to them, Nigerians need credible, transparent, and morally upright leaders, not politicians associated with corruption and financial scandals.
They, however, demanded his disqualification pending the outcome of all cases and investigations against him, arguing that the party should not sacrifice its integrity, public image, and future electoral success for the ambition of any single individual.