ADC South-West Leaders Seek Aregbesola’s Removal as National Secretary

Fresh cracks have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as leaders of the party in the South-West have called for the immediate removal of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as Interim National Secretary over alleged constitutional breaches.

The demand was contained in a petition dated July 28, 2026, and addressed to the party’s National Chairman. Copies were also sent to the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s 2027 presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as the National Legal Adviser.

The petition, signed by several state party officials across the South-West, followed an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan, where the leaders accused Aregbesola of actions they said had deepened internal divisions and threatened the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The signatories included Ogun State Secretary, Olusoji Adebiyi; Osun State Acting Chairman, Abideen Okanlawon; Osun State Youth Leader, Adesola Akitunde; Oyo State Chairman, Yinka Olona; Oyo State member, Adebimpe Adelowo; and Ekiti State Chairman, Ilesanmi Olaiya, among others.

According to the petitioners, Aregbesola violated the ADC constitution by allegedly creating parallel party structures across the South-West under the platform of “Omoluabi Progressive” and presenting members of the group as recognised party officials at the ward, local government and state levels.

The leaders argued that such actions were inconsistent with provisions of the party’s constitution and amounted to conduct capable of bringing the party into disrepute.

“We officially transmit our resolutions reached during the South West Zone emergency stakeholders’ meeting and request urgent action regarding the ceaseless, blatant violations and brazen breaches of our party’s constitution by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,” the petition stated.

The group further alleged that the former governor used his office to interfere in the party’s candidate nomination process by orchestrating the replacement of candidates who emerged from INEC-monitored primary elections with members of the Omoluabi Progressive group.

According to the petition, the alleged substitutions occurred on July 14, 2026, the deadline for uploading National Assembly candidates.

“We equally learnt from reliable sources that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola used his position as National Secretary to collude with some of his cohorts within INEC to unlawfully substitute the names of successful National Assembly candidates… with members of his Omoluabi Progressive splinter group, who did not even purchase nomination forms,” the petition alleged.

The South-West leaders also blamed Aregbesola for the lingering internal disputes in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, accusing him of usurping the responsibilities of the National Organising Secretary by appointing parallel primary election committees.

Describing his continued stay in office as detrimental to the party’s future, the petitioners urged the coalition leadership to appoint a replacement they said would unite members ahead of the next general election.

“Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is not fit to hold the position of Interim National Secretary. His continued stay in office will spell doom for the party,” they said.

The stakeholders called on the party’s NWC and NEC to urgently intervene to resolve the crisis and preserve the unity of the ADC before preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.