A faction within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly rejected the appointment of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s interim national secretary, describing the move as illegitimate and lacking in due process.
The group, which includes youth and women leaders, state executives, and ward coordinators, issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday under the banner of “Concerned Stakeholders of the ADC.”
According to the statement, signed by Dr. Musa Isa Matara, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the appointment of Aregbesola — alongside claims that the ADC is now the official platform for a national opposition coalition — were made without the endorsement of the party’s legitimate structures.
“While we appreciate the enthusiasm with which Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola delivered his acceptance speech, we reject the premise and process behind this appointment. It lacks transparency, legitimacy, and democratic approval,” the statement read.
“ADC Is Not for Sale” — Stakeholders Warn Against Political Hijack
The group accused a small circle of political elites of trying to hijack the party, warning that ADC “is not a one-man project” and cannot be turned into a backdoor coalition platform without the approval of its National Executive Committee (NEC) or a duly convened National Convention.
“We are not against reform or coalitions. But we will resist imposition, backdoor politics, and elitist declarations dressed as revolutionary language,” Matara added.
The rejection comes amidst reports that opposition heavyweights — including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi — are considering ADC as the coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. As part of that arrangement, David Mark and Aregbesola were reportedly named Interim National Chairman and Secretary of the proposed alliance.
Appointments Declared Null and Void
The stakeholders insisted that no such appointments were approved by the party’s constitutional organs and warned all external political actors to tread carefully.
“These appointments are null and void. ADC belongs to its members — not to political merchants. We urge caution, especially from those trying to profit off internal confusion for personal or political gain.”
The statement also noted that ongoing legal battles over the party’s leadership remain unresolved, making any attempt to claim ADC as a national coalition platform “premature, misleading, and potentially self-destructive.”
