Concerns have continued to mount within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area following uncertainties surrounding the secretariat purportedly donated to the party by Hon. Chief Francis Chima, popularly known as Omobarca.
Hon. Chima had publicly announced the donation of the Secretariat to ADC during a meeting attended by top national and state officers of the party. However, recent developments have cast doubts on the authenticity and practicality of the gesture, as the party leadership in Ajeromi-Ifelodun has reportedly been unable to gain access to the facility.
Party sources disclosed that, despite the verbal handover, the ADC LGA chairman and other officers have not been granted entry into the building, raising questions about whether the philanthropist is fully committed to his new party or whether other considerations are influencing the situation.
Further findings revealed that the same property had previously served as the secretariat of the Labour Party when Hon. Chima was a member. The structure was reportedly carried over without formal transfer documentation when he defected to the ADC. This has triggered speculations about whether his membership transition has been fully concluded or if he intends to retain the facility for alternative political use.
In a twist that has deepened the controversy, it was gathered that members of Ward C loyal to Hon. Chima still use the secretariat for their private ward meetings. Meanwhile, no member of the Omobarca bloc across the 11 wards of Ajeromi-Ifelodun has been attending unified ADC LGA or ward meetings, fueling concerns about a lack of full integration into the party.
The situation came to a head recently when an ADC LGA meeting scheduled to hold at the secretariat failed to proceed because the party could not access the venue. Members were reportedly left stranded around the Odofin axis, where the office is located.
Investigations revealed that another group had used the facility the previous day, though the party leadership was not informed about their identity. This has raised additional questions: Were the occupants Labour Party members or ADC members? Why are Omobarca loyalists yet to blend into their new party structure? And is there a possibility they are reconsidering their move to ADC?
As the confusion lingers, ADC stakeholders in the LGA are calling for clarity, insisting that if the secretariat has indeed been donated to the party, it should be formally handed over and fully accessible to all party organs.
So far, Hon. Chima has not issued any official explanation regarding the restricted access or the concerns raised by party members.
