Former Interior Minister and Interim ADC Secretary Rallies Supporters, Calls for Issue-Based Political Engagement
LAGOS — Former Minister of Interior and interim national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has called on supporters of the newly formed coalition-backed party to avoid insults and personal attacks against members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aregbesola made the appeal on Friday upon his arrival in Lagos from Abuja, where the official launch of the ADC—a political movement aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu’s administration—recently took place.
Addressing supporters who thronged the airport to welcome him, Aregbesola expressed gratitude for their support but reminded them of the weighty task ahead. He urged party loyalists to adopt a strategy rooted in civility and facts, especially in responding to criticisms or attacks from APC loyalists.
“The task before us is immense,” Aregbesola said in a statement shared via his official social media handles. “We do not need to fight, insult, or attack anyone. 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?”
He encouraged ADC members to challenge opponents using verifiable data on key national issues such as food inflation, economic hardship, and rising poverty, while articulating why the ADC offers a credible alternative for Nigeria’s future.
Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and long-time political ally of President Tinubu, fell out with the APC leadership in 2022 after refusing to back the reelection bid of his successor, Gboyega Oyetola—Tinubu’s nephew. Instead, his political faction, ‘Omoluabi’, supported opposition candidate Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who went on to win the election.
As the 2027 elections approach, Aregbesola’s reemergence in the ADC highlights ongoing realignments in Nigeria’s political landscape, with a growing coalition seeking to challenge the ruling party.
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