WorldStage— South-West leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have demanded the immediate removal of former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, from his position as the party’s Interim National Secretary.
The leaders issued this resolution following a crucial meeting, citing persistent internal divisions and a failure to effectively manage the party’s affairs across the region.
In a petition dated July 28, 2026, and addressed to the ADC National Chairman, the South-West leaders said Aregbesola’s actions had plunged the party into avoidable crises at a critical period ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They said the resolution was reached during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan.
The petition was signed by several party leaders across the region, including Olusoji Adebiyi (Ogun State Secretary), Abideen Okanlawon (Osun State Acting Chairman), Adesola Akitunde (Osun State Youth Leader), Yinka Olona (Oyo State Chairman), Adebimpe Adelowo (Oyo State member), and Ilesanmi Olaiya (Ekiti State Chairman), among others.
Copies were forwarded 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 South-West faction urged the national coalition leadership to review Aregbesola’s appointment, raising several specific allegations.
Leaders blamed Aregbesola for fueling ongoing internal crises within the party branches of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states.
He is also accused of deliberately bypassing and usurping the constitutional functions of the party’s elected national officers.
Stakeholders claimed his administrative style has created a widening gap between the national secretariat and local chapters.
The development adds another turbulent chapter to the lingering leadership crisis rocking the ADC since its transition into a mega-opposition platform.
Rauf Aregbesola and former Senate President David Mark were appointed as Interim National Secretary and Interim National Chairman to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, however, the appointments have faced stiff internal legal pushback.
A Federal High Court recently dismissed preliminary objections filed by Mark and Aregbesola against a lawsuit challenging their legitimacy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has experienced its own procedural delays and reversals in officially updating the party’s records due to conflicting court orders from rival factions.
