ADC stakeholders oppose strongly Aregbesola as scribe

Efforts by a coalition of opposition politicians under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are facing internal resistance, as a group of party stakeholders has strongly opposed the appointment of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s Interim National Secretary.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the group—led by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Musa Isa Matara—condemned what they described as an attempted hijack of the party by Aregbesola and his allies.

“We are not against coalition-building or reforms,” the statement read. “However, we reject any form of imposition, hijack, or lofty rhetoric that conceals elitist motives beneath poetic language.” The group, which includes party youth and women’s wings, emphasized the importance of inclusive, democratic processes.

Dr. Matara asserted that any leadership change must be ratified by a legitimate ADC National Convention or the National Executive Committee (NEC), warning that until such constitutional procedures are followed, no individual holds the moral or legal authority to represent the party at the national level.

According to the stakeholders, neither the NEC, state chairpersons, youth leaders, nor elected national officers were consulted before Aregbesola’s emergence. They dismissed claims that the ADC had been adopted as the “platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group,” calling such declarations misleading and unrepresentative of the party’s broader membership.

The group warned that pushing a coalition without grassroots engagement violates democratic principles and undermines the sovereignty of the party.

“To those flooding into the ADC under this disorganized coalition banner, be reminded: the party is still entangled in unresolved legal battles dating back to the 2023 general elections. These matters are still before the courts. Any alliance built on such unstable legal foundations is reckless and unsustainable,” they stated.

Issuing a stern caution, they added: “Those seeking to exploit the ADC for personal or political gain should beware. This party is not for sale. It belongs to its members—not to political merchants or elite power brokers.”