Ogun West Senatorial: Party Members Seek Disqualification Of Governor Abiodun’s Preferred Candidate, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele, Cite Violation Of Party Rules
ABEOKUTA – The senatorial ambition of Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele has come under intense scrutiny following a series of petitions submitted to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by party stakeholders in Ogun West, accusing him of violating the party’s disciplinary code and internal democratic principles.
The petitioners, in separate letters addressed to the APC National Chairman in Abuja, accused Ojugbele of violating the party’s oath of allegiance and internal disciplinary principles following his legal battle against the party after the 2022 House of Representatives primary election in Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency.
The protesters alleged that Ojugbele dragged the APC and the eventual candidate, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, before the Federal High Court in a suit no: FHC/AB/CS/94/2022 and pursued the case through the appellate courts up to the Supreme Court, an action they claimed contradicted the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism.
According to the petitioners, the former lawmaker’s actions breached Item 7 of the APC Oath of Allegiance, which discourages members from instituting court actions against the party or its officers without first exhausting internal avenues for redress.
The petitions, separately signed by party members including Akeem Adetunji Onatade, Tajudeen Laisi Ajose and Saheed Oluwasegun Ajose, argued that allowing Ojugbele to emerge as the APC senatorial candidate would undermine party discipline and set a dangerous precedent within the ruling party.
“We respectfully submit that rewarding such conduct with the highly strategic Ogun West Senatorial ticket would send dangerous signals to party members across the state and country,” one of the petitions stated.
The petitioners further warned that endorsing Ojugbele’s ambition could reopen old political divisions within Ogun West APC and weaken internal trust among loyal party members.
They maintained that the APC must remain “an institution governed by rules, consistency and collective responsibility,” stressing that personal ambition should not supercede party supremacy.
The aggrieved members also called on Dapo Abiodun, the APC national leadership, the Ogun State APC executive, as well as party elders and stakeholders in Ogun West to carefully reconsider any support for Ojugbele’s senatorial aspiration.
In one of the letters dated April 28, 2026, signed by Saheed Oluwasegun Ajose with membership number: APC270314000019, the petitioners insisted that the party must uphold “loyalty, discipline, consistency and respect for party supremacy” in determining who emerges as the APC flag bearer for Ogun West.
Another petitioner, Tajudeen Laisi Ajose from Igbesa Ward, with membership number APC270314000398, said while every party member has a constitutional right to seek legal redress, members must also demonstrate loyalty and commitment to the APC’s internal dispute resolution process.
He warned that supporting Ojugbele’s ambition despite his prolonged litigation against the party could erode confidence in the APC’s disciplinary framework.
The petitioners reiterated that their protest was not driven by personal hostility but by what they described as a genuine desire to protect party unity, internal democracy and stability in Ogun West ahead of future elections.
“While every individual has legal rights, it is important that party members also show loyalty and commitment to the internal conflict resolution process of the APC. I believe it sends the wrong signal for someone who openly challenged the party in court for such a long period to now seek the Ogun West Senatorial ticket under the same platform.
“At a time when unity and stability are important for the progress of the APC in Ogun West, the party must be careful not to encourage actions that could weaken internal trust and discipline among members.
“I respectfully urge the national leadership, the Ogun State APC Executive, and all party stakeholders to carefully consider the implications of supporting this aspiration. The APC must continue to stand for loyalty, discipline, and respect for party supremacy above personal ambition.
“As of the time of filing this report, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele and the Ogun State APC leadership had yet to officially respond to the petitions,” Tajudeen Ajose stressed.
The petitioners reiterated that their protest was not driven by personal hostility but by what they described as a genuine desire to protect party unity, internal democracy and stability in Ogun West ahead of future elections.
