South-West ADC Supports Aregbesola, Calls Removal Petition False

The South-West leadership of the African Democratic Congress has thrown its weight behind Rauf Aregbesola, the party’s National Secretary. They dismissed the claims against him as untrue. They said the party’s South-West candidates for the 2027 general elections were approved by the National Executive Committee, not the National Secretary.

The zonal leadership, headed by Akinbowale Omole, who is the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-West), made this known after a meeting. The meeting included recognized national and zonal officers from the region. They described those making the allegations as “disgruntled elements” who support a former minister, Kachikwu Ibe, and a federal lawmaker, Leke Abejide. Abejide recently lost a legal case at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement released on Monday, Omole said he attended the meeting with several officials. These included Capt. Olatunji Shelle, the National Director of Communication and Strategy; Mrs Omolara Oseni, the Zonal Organising Secretary; Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, the Deputy National Financial Secretary; Alhaja Kafila Olayiwola, the Deputy National Woman Leader; Mrs Lydia Olafunmiloye, the Zonal Woman Leader; and Dr Bode Ojerinde.

Omole signed a communiqué stating that the zonal leadership rejected a petition claiming to be from people representing the ADC in the South-West. The petition called for Aregbesola’s removal as National Secretary.

“Our attention has been drawn to a petition addressed to our National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, calling for the removal of our National Secretary. This petition was written by certain individuals who claim to be leaders of the party in the South-West, a claim not accepted by the party’s national leadership,” the statement read.

The leadership stated that those behind the petition were the same individuals who took the party to court after rejecting several attempts at reconciliation.

“We find it necessary to clarify the facts. First, these are the same individuals who went to court against the party after ignoring repeated reconciliation efforts. Second, the allegations against the National Secretary are baseless, untrue, and misleading,” the statement continued.

The South-West leadership pointed out that the allegations did not consider the National Secretary’s constitutional role. They emphasized that he only carries out decisions made by the party’s highest bodies.

“Thirdly, it defies logic that the National Secretary, the party’s chief accounting officer, would be accused of creating parallel structures or manipulating primary outcomes. They failed to inform the public that, according to the ADC Constitution, the National Executive Committee approved the primary results before the names were sent to INEC. The decisions about primary committees, how primaries are conducted, and how results are managed are made by the National Executive Committee, not the National Secretary,” it added.

The statement insisted that those behind the petition do not represent the recognized leadership of the party in the South-West and have no authority to speak for it.

“The ADC in the South-West knows its leaders. Those who issued the false statement have taken the wrong path and burnt their fingers. They should be humble and return to the party’s proper authority. We will not let the affairs of this party be run by troublemakers,” the party leadership stated.

The zonal leadership claimed that those now accusing Aregbesola are the same people who broke the party’s rules during congresses and primaries.

“It is important to point out that those making these accusations are the same people who ignored party directives and violated the party constitution during congresses and primaries. They then turn around to accuse the National Secretary of the same behavior they engaged in. Their recent actions show their frustration after failing to disrupt the party from within, which the National Secretary strongly opposed,” they noted.

The group reaffirmed that the ADC’s recognized South-West leadership remains under Omole. They warned anyone claiming to represent the zone to stop what they called impersonation.

“We want to make it clear that the party’s South-West zonal leadership is under Rt. Hon. Akinbowale Omole, National Vice Chairman, a respected party figure. We urge these people to stop impersonating party leadership. If this continues, we may have to reveal details of meetings held with groups opposed to the leadership of Sen. David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,” they warned.

This latest development highlights the ongoing internal issues within the ADC following the party’s congresses and primary elections for the 2027 general elections. The controversy arises as the party prepares for the polls, with its national leadership, led by Chairman Senator David Mark, trying to show unity after recent legal battles involving rival factions.