Why I accepted to serve as ADC national secretary – Aregbesola, ex-Tinubu’s ally

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Newly appointed interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rauf Aregbesola said he accepted his appointment as the interim national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in order to build a party that is absolutely committed to the people and rooted in democratic values, the rule of law, and social justice.

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Mr Aregbesola said this while accepting his appointment on Tuesday night in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The coalition appointed a former Senate President, David Mark, as its interim national chairman, and a former Youth and Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, as its spokesperson.

Mr Aregbesola, a former political ally of President Tinubu, said he accepted the appointment with deep humility and a profound sense of duty.

While thanking the leadership of the coalition for the confidence reposed in him, the former minister of interior said, “Our political landscape is plagued by parties that lack ideological depth. They are empty shells merging and splitting, not over policy or principle, but over power and personality. There is little regard for the people, and even less for the country.

“That is not the kind of party we must be. That is not the kind of party I will serve.

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“As the national secretary, I will work to build a party that has a clear ideological compass, a party that is absolutely committed to the people, rooted in democratic values, the rule of law, social justice, accountability, transparency and national development. A party that listens and works for the people, not only during elections, but every single day,” he said.

Mr Aregebesola served as works commissioner while President Tinubu was governor of Lagos State. He then became governor of Osun State on the ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the opposition parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). After his tenure as governor, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as interior minister.

However, the former minister fell out with President Tinubu. The feud saw the former governor lead his supporters, known as Omoluabi Progressives, out of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January.

In May, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who leads the coalition, visited him in Osun, apparently to woo him into the NOCG.

Read the full text of Mr Aregesola’s acceptance speech as ADC interim national secretary

NIGERIA UPDATE: ACCEPTANCE SPEECH by: GOV RAUF AREGBESOLA on appointment as THE INTERIM NATIONAL SECRETARY, ADC – The party platform adopted by the National Opposition Coalition Group – Tuesday, 1st July, 2025

Dear Party Leaders, Distinguished Members, Friends, and Fellow Citizens,

It is with deep humility, a profound sense of duty, and unwavering hope for our people, nation, race and party and that I accept the appointment as The National Secretary of our great party.

I thank the leadership for the trust reposed in me. But more than that, I thank every committed member of this party are those who still believe that politics can be a force for good, people who believe that party forms government and must control it. Those who believe in the supremacy of the party in a democracy and all products of democratic contests. Those who recognise that parties must stand for and with the people in the promotion of their interests and aspirations. That parties therefore are not merely machines for winning elections but institutions for mobilizing, organizing, energizing, educating, empowering and encouraging the people towards their emancipation and development.

ALSO READ: Atiku-led opposition coalition adopts ADC to challenge Tinubu, appoints interim leaders

Let me begin by saying this: a political party is not a platform for opportunism. It is not a mere vehicle to power for the few, nor a tool for personal ambition. A political party, in its truest form, is a living institution built on values, guided by ideals, and accountable to the people it seeks to serve.

Throughout Africa’s history, and particularly in the legacy of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa; a 113 year- behemoth of party organization that is impeccable in its credibility as a model of supremacy of party over its creation (government and popularly elected officials) have seen what a party grounded in ideology, principle, and people-centred struggle can achieve. The ANC is not perfect but it stands for something. It was forged in resistance, sharpened by vision, and led by men and women who believe in justice, dignity, equality, inclusivity of all interests and true freedom. It has character. It has soul. It is therefore a true platform for the expression of their aspirations.

Sadly, in Nigeria today, we cannot say the same about many of our political parties.

Our political landscape is plagued by parties that lack ideological depth. They are empty shells merging and splitting, not over policy or principle, but over power and personality. There is little regard for the people, and even less for the country.

That is not the kind of party we must be. That is not the kind of party I will serve.

As The National Secretary, I will work to build a party that has a clear ideological compass a party that is absolutely committed to the people, rooted in democratic values, rule of law, social justice, accountability, transparency and national development. A party that listens and works for to the people, not only during elections, but every single day.

We must become an institution where:

(1) Internal democracy is not just preached but practiced.

(2) Intra-party competition is transparent, fair, and just.

(3) All party structures from the ward to the national level and function effectively and efficiently.

(4) Young people, women, and the marginalized have a real voice, not symbolic inclusion.

(5) All special and critical interests (security, educators, farmers, workers, women, youth, professionals, people with special needs, etc., must be recognised and allowed to have autonomous structures within the party.

We will model international best practices in party organization, administration, and ethics. We will study what works from South Africa to Sweden, from Chile to Kenya, and adapt what fits our local reality. Discipline, order, clarity of purpose, and service to the people must define us.

We must be the party that talks about public education and actually builds schools. That speaks of security and supports real policies to keep our communities safe. That believes in jobs and works to create them. That stands for Nigeria not just during elections, but in everyday governance.

This is not an easy task. It will take time. It will demand sacrifice. But it can be done.

I ask for your support not just in words, but in action. Hold me accountable. Challenge me when I stray. And stand with me as we begin this journey to rebuild our party, restore its soul, and return politics to its rightful place as a service to the people.

Thank you, and may our work ahead be worthy of the hopes our people place in us.

Long live our party. Long live our democracy. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola