An internal power struggle has erupted within Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the “acceptance speech” of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary. A group identifying themselves as “Concerned Stakeholders of the ADC” has vehemently rejected Aregbesola’s appointment, labeling it a breach of democratic principles and party constitution.
Controversial Appointment Sparks Outcry
In a strongly worded statement issued on July 1st, 2025, the Concerned Stakeholders, comprising youth and women leaders, state party executives, and ward coordinators nationwide, claimed Aregbesola’s appointment lacked “due process, transparency, and broad-based legitimacy.” This sentiment was articulated by Musa Matara IQAM, who identified himself as the National Publicity Secretary (Original) for the ADC, stating, “The ADC is not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group or individuals.”
The group questioned the legitimacy of the appointment, asking: “Who appointed Gov. Aregbesola? Which organ of the ADC ratified this appointment? Was the National Executive Committee (NEC) involved? Were state chairmen, youth leaders, and elected national officers consulted?” They unequivocally declared the appointment “null and void” if these questions, as they believe, yield negative answers.
“False Coalition Claims” and Unresolved Legal Battles
The stakeholders also challenged the assertion that the ADC has become the “platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group,” calling the claim “misleading.”
They stated that the party’s “millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition,” viewing any such attempt as an affront to democratic ethics and party sovereignty.
Furthermore, the group highlighted unresolved legal crises plaguing the ADC since the 2023 general elections, warning that any coalition built on such “shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.” They cautioned new members joining under the current arrangement to “tread carefully,” alleging attempts by “few individuals” to “sell out the soul of our party for personal gain.”
Democracy vs. Imposition
The Concerned Stakeholders drew a sharp contrast between Aregbesola’s speech, which reportedly emphasized internal democracy and inclusiveness, and the process of his emergence. They argued that “democracy cannot begin with imposition” and that the ADC “must not become another replica of the broken parties we seek to replace.”
They also rejected the notion that “party supremacy” could be used to “silence dissent or sideline authentic party stakeholders,” insisting that true party supremacy stems from consultation and consensus. The group lamented the apparent exclusion of the youth and women wings from the decision-making process, questioning if it was merely “another top-down recycling of elite political control.”
Call for Constitutional Adherence
The statement concluded with a firm resolve to stand for “accountable leadership, transparent decision-making, and a people-powered party structure.” The Concerned Stakeholders called on all genuine ADC members to reject this “attempted takeover,” emphasizing their opposition to “hijack,” “imposition,” and “speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions.”
They maintained that “until a legitimate, constitutionally-backed ADC National Convention or NEC confirms leadership changes, no one has the moral or legal right to speak for our party nationally.”
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