A suspended chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Ondo State, Olaide Ibraheem, has warned the party’s leadership to reinstate him or face legal action. He said he remains the legitimate state chairman because no new congress has been held since his suspension.
Ibraheem stated that he became the ADC chairman through a state congress held on October 7, 2020, which he said was properly conducted with security agencies present. According to him, he ran the party for years without financial support from elected officials or external sources and followed the party’s rules while in office.
He explained that his removal in November 2024 was carried out by the party’s national chairman and described the action as unlawful, arguing that the party constitution does not give the national chairman the power to remove a state chairman. He added that elders within the party had earlier promised to resolve the matter but failed to do so.
As a result, Ibraheem announced a 14-day deadline for the party to restore him, his executives, and local government officials who were removed alongside him. He said legal steps would follow if the party does not act within the given period.
Reacting to the development, the ADC Director of Media in Ondo State, Olurotimi Eniola, dismissed Ibraheem’s claims. He said Ibraheem only served as an interim chairman and was later expelled by the national leadership for anti-party activities. He also said Ibraheem did not hold a valid ADC membership card and had left the party.
Eniola added that other chairmen had served after Ibraheem’s exit and maintained that the party does not recognize him as a current member. He said Ibraheem is free to seek legal action if he chooses, but the party stands by its decision.