El-Rufai’s Ally, Jimi Lawal, Wins Ogun ADC Governorship Primary

A close associate of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El-Rufai, Jimi Lawal, has emerged winner of the governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogun State.

The election was contested by three aspirants: Lawal, Abiodun Collins Ogundipe, and a US-based medical doctor, Dr. Marie Abolaji Odusina.

The Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Election Committee set up by the national leadership of the party, Barrister Adebimpe Adelowo, announced the result at the secretariat of the party on Monday in Abeokuta.

He said the election was conducted across the 236 wards of the state over the weekend.

According to Adelowo, Lawal polled 19,428 votes, while Ogundipe got 5,775 votes and Dr. Odusina had 4,825 votes.

He said, “Hon. Jimi Lawal scored a total of 19,428 votes, Abiodun Collins Ogundipe scored 5,775 votes, and Dr. Marie Abolaji Odusina scored 4,825 votes. Therefore, Hon. Jimi Lawal, having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the Ogun State gubernatorial primary election, and he is now the governorship candidate of the ADC in the coming 2027 general elections.”

Adelowo noted that the ADC still remains the party to beat come the 2027 elections, saying the party is united and strong.

“We still remain the party to beat. We are one indivisible party. Preparation to win next year’s election is ongoing, and we will mobilise massively and mobilise people from the grassroots as well,” he stated.

Adelowo said that the primary election was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the 236 wards, adding that they were impressed by the turnout of card-carrying party members and the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves.

He said the results “have been submitted to the Chairman of the Party in his capacity as Chairman of the State Congress of the party, where the governorship candidate is to be elected, in line with the provisions of Article 12 (10) and Article 13 (9) (iii) (a) of the Constitution of our great party.”

Lawal served in the Kaduna State Government under Governor El-Rufai from 2015 to 2022 as a Special Adviser, and later as a Senior Adviser and Counsellor

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المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)