The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Ogun State has dismissed reports that its Ogun East Senatorial District structure has collapsed into the All Progressives Congress, APC, in support of Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, describing  the claims as false and misleading.

DAILY POST reports that news circulated on Monday, alleging that the ADC Ogun East Senatorial District structure during the weekend decamped to the APC to work for the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Yayi.

Mr Erinle Opeoluwa, ADC Chairman in Ijebu North East, said the defectors chose to align with Yayi because they were weary of opposition politics, which he claimed had yielded no results for them in three election cycles, leaving many of them worse off in Ogun State.

DAILY POST gathered that Opeoluwa and nine other chairmen dumped ADC for APC.

The other individuals are Kazeem Adebanjo of Ijebu North LGA, Dehinsilu Olusegun of Ikenne LGA, Gbade Oluwasegun of Ijebu Ode Shittu Titilola of Ijebu East LGA; Omooba Kazeem of Sagamu LGA; Adegoroye Osubukola of Remo North LGA; Salisu Abdulwaheed of Odogbolu LGA; Ibidunni Adetola, ADC chieftain in Ijebu Ode; and Yemi Macauley, also an ADC chieftain in Ijebu Ode.  

Reacting on Monday, the ADC State Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, said the report did not reflect the true position in the party.

Onabajo insisted that the party remained “united, functional, and firmly committed to winning the forthcoming elections in the state,” stressing that no collapse of its structure has occurred in the Ogun East district.  

According to the party, the individuals reported to have joined the APC acted “strictly in their personal capacities” and their decisions do not amount to a collapse of the party’s structure.  

“We wish to state categorically that the report is false, misleading, and does not reflect the true position of our party. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun East did not collapse its structure into the APC. The party remains united, functional, and firmly committed to win the forth coming elections in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the individuals reported to have joined the APC acted strictly in their personal capacities. Their decisions do not represent the position of the African Democratic Congress, nor do they amount to a collapse of the party’s structure in Ogun East.

“While we acknowledge the constitutional right of every Nigerian to freedom of association, it is important to state that the decision of these individuals to defect does not constitute the collapse of the ADC structure in Ogun East Senatorial District,” Onabajo stated.  

He explained that a political party’s structure comprises constitutionally recognized leadership, executives, and organs at ward, local government, senatorial and state levels, “not merely individual members or chieftains”.

The spokesman added that ADC structures across the nine local government areas in Ogun East “remain intact, operational, and committed to strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general elections”.

The ADC image maker accused those behind the report of deliberate misrepresentation intended to create “a false impression of political reality” in the senatorial district.  

He urged members, supporters, and the general public to disregard the narrative, saying the ADC “remains focused, united, and resolute in providing a credible alternative for the people of Ogun State”.

Shareholders of the largest pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, approved a dividend of ₦1.50 per 50 kobo ordinary share, amounting to ₦3.6 billion, at the Company’s 27th Annual General Meeting held virtually on Thursday, 30 July.

The approval comes against the backdrop of a year in which the company achieved key milestones in its growth trajectory. It also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the smooth transition of leadership at both the Board and Management level — a transition shareholders acknowledged as a testament to Fidson’s strong corporate governance culture and succession planning. It also reflects shareholders’ confidence in the Company’s continued ability to deliver sustainable value despite a challenging operating environment.

The Founder and Chairman of Fidson, Fidelis Ayebae, in his address to shareholders, said 2025 marked a defining year in the history of the Company.

“We recorded revenue of ₦119.06 billion, becoming the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria to surpass the ₦100 billion annual revenue milestone. This achievement reflects the dedication of our people, the confidence of our shareholders, and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy.”

Also recognising critical enablers of the business, Mr Ayebae expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for improving the operating environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturers through strategic policies that have strengthened the ability of industry players like Fidson to meet the high demand for pharmaceutical products at affordable prices for Nigerians.

Mr Ayebae added that, beyond financial performance, the Company continued to make strategic investments that will shape the future of healthcare manufacturing in Africa. He said:

“Our ongoing expansion projects have reached advanced stages and, upon completion, will position Fidson as the largest and most sophisticated pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are confident that Fidson is well-positioned to deliver sustainable growth, deepen healthcare access, and continue to create superior value for our shareholders and all stakeholders.”

Responding to questions and comments from shareholders, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Biola Adebayo, reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to sustaining growth through innovation, manufacturing excellence, and strategic investments.

“Our focus remains clear—to deepen our manufacturing capabilities, widen our product portfolio, improve market penetration, and build a healthcare institution that delivers value to consumers, healthcare professionals, shareholders, and society at large. We will achieve this by leveraging emerging opportunities across Africa and continually strengthening our processes for sustainable growth.”

Shareholders who spoke during the meeting commended the Board and Management for maintaining the Company’s growth trajectory and a dividend policy that rewards investors while preserving adequate resources for future expansion. They also expressed confidence in the management’s ability to build on existing achievements and further strengthen Fidson’s position as the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Nigeria.

In addition to approving the dividend, shareholders considered and approved the resolutions presented at the AGM, including the election and re-election of directors, authorisation to fix auditors’ remuneration, and the election of members of the Statutory Audit Committee, further reinforcing the Company’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound corporate governance.

The meeting also highlighted Fidson’s continued commitment to accessible shareholder engagement through the use of electronic annual reports, e-dividend platforms, and virtual AGM participation, enabling shareholders to participate more conveniently in the affairs of the Company.

As Fidson Healthcare Plc moves into a new phase of growth, the Company remains committed to its vision of adding value to lives through quality pharmaceutical products while delivering sustainable returns to shareholders and contributing meaningfully to the development of Africa’s healthcare ecosystem.