The South-West leadership of the African Democratic Congress has thrown its weight behind the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, dismissing allegations against him as unfounded and insisting that the National Executive Committee approved the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The zonal leadership, headed by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-West), Akinbowale Omole, described the allegations as the handiwork of aggrieved party members allegedly loyal to former minister Kachikwu Ibe and federal lawmaker Leke Abejide.
In a statement issued on Monday, Omole said the meeting was attended by several national and zonal officials, including the National Director of Communication and Strategy, Capt. Olatunji Shelle; the Zonal Organising Secretary, Mrs Omolara Oseni; and the Deputy National Woman Leader, Alhaja Kafila Olayiwola.
The party leadership rejected a petition calling for Aregbesola’s removal as national secretary, arguing that those behind it did not represent the recognised leadership of the party in the South-West.
“Our attention has been drawn to a petition addressed to our National Chairman, Senator David Mark, calling for the removal of our National Secretary. This petition was authored by certain individuals parading themselves as leaders of the party in the South-West, a claim not recognised by the party’s national leadership,” the statement read.
According to the zonal leadership, the petitioners were the same individuals who had earlier taken the party to court after rejecting attempts at reconciliation.
The leadership also argued that the allegations against Aregbesola ignored the constitutional role of the national secretary, whose duty is to implement decisions taken by the party’s highest decision-making body.
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The group stressed that the National Executive Committee was solely responsible for approving the outcome of the party’s primaries before the names of candidates were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“They failed to tell the public that, in line with the provisions of the ADC Constitution, the National Executive Committee of the party duly approved the outcome of the primaries before the names of candidates were forwarded to INEC,” the statement said.
The leadership further accused the petitioners of violating the party’s constitution during previous congresses and primary elections while attempting to shift responsibility to the national secretary.
It reaffirmed Omole’s position as the recognised leader of the party in the South-West and warned those claiming otherwise to desist from impersonating party officials.
The latest disagreement highlights the internal challenges facing the opposition party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark.