The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Ogun chapter has condemned Governor Dapo Abiodun’s appointment of 1,200 political assistants, describing it as “daylight robbery” and a waste of state resources
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogun State chapter, has strongly condemned the appointment of 1,200 political assistants by Governor Dapo Abiodun, describing the move as a “colossal waste” and an affront to struggling citizens.
The Abiodun-led administration had, on Friday, announced the appointments through a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade. According to him, the political aides — five from each of Ogun State’s 236 wards — were engaged as “change agents” to enhance civic engagement and strengthen grassroots democracy.
“The newly appointed political assistants are to support the delivery of democratic dividends, articulate the needs of their respective wards, and communicate these needs to the state government. They are also expected to provide accurate feedback from the government to the wards and vice versa,” Akinmade explained.
But in a swift reaction, the ADC state chairman, Otunba (Dr.) Femi Soluade, dismissed the initiative as “daylight robbery of the state’s patrimony” and accused the governor of wasting public funds on political patronage.
“At a time when ordinary citizens, workers, pensioners, and the unemployed are wallowing in abject poverty with infrastructural decay in the area of roads and social amenities, this outgoing government has decided to weaponize poverty further by creating political jobs for cronies in the name of governance,” Soluade declared.
He further described the appointments as evidence of “the cluelessness of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),” insisting that Ogun deserves leadership that invests in productive sectors, not in “reckless distribution of political largesse.”
According to Soluade, the move is part of a larger political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections. “The newly appointed political assistants are APC members being groomed to serve as delegates with state resources since such appointments are not statutory by law and will not be remunerated by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission,” he alleged.
The ADC chairman also criticized leaders of other opposition parties who openly backed the development. “It is very unfortunate that some notable leaders of NNPP and Labour Party in persons of Comrade Oginni Olaposi and Comrade Abayomi Arabambi are shamelessly supporting the illegal and heinous crimes of malgovernance and maladministration of Gov. Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu–led APC maladministration,” Soluade said.
He further attacked the recent launch of the Emi Lokan programme in Ogun State, linking it to Abiodun’s alleged succession agenda. “The launching of EMI LOKAN Programme in support of President Tinubu 2027 and Abiodun’s clueless succession bid is condemnable and dead on arrival,” he declared.
Pledging resistance, Soluade vowed that the ADC would frustrate Abiodun’s succession plans. “The Ogun State ADC with the support of the people will on May 29th, 2027 make APC defunct in Ogun and retire Governor Dapo Abiodun back to his hometown, Iperu, to manage his oil company business,” he added.
He concluded by urging the governor to immediately reverse the decision, stressing that “true grassroots democracy is built on transparent governance, economic empowerment, quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure, not cosmetic appointments that drain the treasury.” Read More
