Former Interior Minister and interim national secretary of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has cautioned supporters of the party against engaging in verbal attacks or confrontations with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Friday after arriving in Lagos from Abuja, Aregbesola, who served under President Bola Tinubu as commissioner for works in Lagos and later as minister in his cabinet, called for a disciplined, issue-based political engagement. His comments follow the official unveiling of the ADC as a coalition-backed platform aiming to challenge the Tinubu-led administration in 2027.
In a statement shared via his social media platforms, Aregbesola thanked ADC members who came to receive him at the Lagos airport, while encouraging them to maintain decorum despite political provocation.
“The task before us is immense, and I reminded everyone that we do not need to fight, insult, or attack anyone,” he wrote.
He urged ADC supporters to instead engage political opponents using facts and the realities of the country’s economic struggles.
“When others resort to abuse or name-calling, we must rise above it. Instead, ask them one simple question: Are Nigerians better off today than they were before? Challenge them with facts — on food inflation, the economy, the rising cost of living, and the deepening poverty affecting millions.”
Aregbesola emphasized the need for ADC members to clearly articulate their vision and use evidence to explain why their party stands as a viable alternative for national development and long-term sustainability.
His re-emergence into the political limelight marks a new phase in his political journey—especially after falling out with President Tinubu. The former Osun State governor was once considered one of Tinubu’s closest political allies, with their relationship dating back to the early days of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999.
Their alliance crumbled ahead of the 2022 Osun governorship election when Aregbesola’s political group, Omoluabi, refused to back the reelection of Gboyega Oyetola—Tinubu’s nephew and Aregbesola’s successor. Instead, the group supported the opposition candidate, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who went on to win the election.
With Aregbesola now fronting the ADC as a “credible and necessary alternative,” analysts say his influence, especially in the Southwest, could reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
What you should know
Rauf Aregbesola, once a close ally of President Tinubu, has resurfaced as the interim national secretary of the ADC.
He’s urging party supporters to avoid insults and instead focus on issue-based debates, highlighting the country’s economic challenges as proof of the current administration’s failings.
