- Rauf Aregbesola pledges to forge ideological, people-centered ADC
In a decisive move to consolidate opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election, former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola have been appointed Interim National Chairman and Interim National Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The announcement was made following a late-night meeting of the National Opposition Coalition Group in Abuja on July 1, 2025, where top figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) agreed to adopt the ADC as their joint platform .
According to multiple attendees who requested anonymity, the coalition deliberations culminated in a unanimous vote for Mark and Aregbesola—seeking to leverage their national stature and track records of public service.
In addition, former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi was named Interim National Publicity Secretary, signaling the coalition’s intent to mount an aggressive media campaign against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The new leadership lineup will be formally unveiled in Abuja on July 2, marking the official launch of ADC as the coalition’s political vehicle.
The decision to install Mark and Aregbesola reflects the coalition’s strategy of combining seasoned political heavyweights with reformist energy. David Mark, who served as Senate President from 2007 to 2015, is widely respected for his legislative experience and perceived neutrality among Nigeria’s major ethnic blocs.
Rauf Aregbesola, known for his infrastructural and education initiatives as Governor of Osun State, brings administrative acumen and grassroots appeal. Their pairing aims to balance national cohesion with administrative competence .
Coalition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), and former APC chairman John Oyegun, have been working since March to overcome internal party fractures and present a united front.
Sources reveal that ADC’s existing National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and his National Working Committee have agreed to stand aside temporarily, enabling the interim leadership to steer the platform through its foundational phase.
Analysts view the ADC’s rapid rebranding as both bold and risky. By migrating thousands of members—across PDP, LP, NNPP, and SDP—into a smaller party structure, the coalition hopes to circumvent intra-party gatekeeping and capture INEC’s deadlines for candidate registration.
However, questions remain about integrating disparate party organs and reconciling policy differences under one banner.
Aregbesola has reportedly convened planning sessions to establish sub-committees on internal democracy, youth inclusion, and policy platform development, aiming to iron out these complexities before year-end .
As preparations intensify, eyes will be on the formal inauguration ceremony and the ADC’s roadmap for primary elections, manifesto crafting, and membership mobilization.
With the interim leadership in place, the coalition has signaled its readiness to challenge the ruling APC’s dominance – hoping that the gravitas of David Mark and the dynamism of Rauf Aregbesola can translate into electoral momentum and deliver a credible alternative to Nigerians weary of economic hardship and insecurity.
Meanwhile, in a stirring address on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola formally accepted his appointment as Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political platform endorsed by the National Opposition Coalition Group.
Speaking before senior party figures, grassroots members, and a national broadcast audience, Aregbesola delivered an expansive vision for reshaping the ADC into a values-driven, mass-mobilizing institution—far removed from the personality-driven parties that have come to dominate Nigeria’s politics.
A Call to Renewed Purpose and Humility
Aregbesola opened with a tone of humility and resolve. “It is with deep humility, a profound sense of duty, and unwavering hope for our people, nation, race and party that I accept the appointment as National Secretary of our great party,” he declared. He thanked the ADC leadership for entrusting him with the role, but reserved his deepest gratitude for “every committed member… those who still believe that politics can be a force for good.” By immediately centering the party faithful rather than the office, Aregbesola signaled that his tenure would prioritize collective action over personal ambition.
Reclaiming the Party’s Role in Democracy
Drawing a sharp distinction between political machines and genuine democratic institutions, Aregbesola warned against the “opportunism” that has marred many Nigerian parties. He argued that a political organization should be “built on values, guided by ideals, and accountable to the people it seeks to serve.” In his view, parties must do far more than win elections; they must educate, mobilize, and empower citizens, standing as “institutions for mobilizing, organizing, energizing, educating, empowering and encouraging the people towards their emancipation and development.”
Learning from the ANC’s Enduring Legacy
To illustrate what a principled party can achieve, Aregbesola pointed to the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. He praised the ANC’s century-long resistance struggle, its unyielding commitment to justice and equality, and its resilience in preserving party supremacy over government offices. “The ANC… 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.” While acknowledging the ANC’s imperfections, he held it out as a model of ideological coherence and disciplined leadership that the ADC must aspire to emulate.
Diagnosing Nigeria’s Partisan Malaise
Turning to the domestic scene, Aregbesola lamented the churn of Nigerian political parties, which he described as “empty shells merging and splitting, not over policy or principle, but over power and personality.” He criticized the prevailing disregard for citizens’ welfare and the country’s wellbeing, insisting that the ADC must chart a radically different course: one anchored in democratic values, the rule of law, social justice, accountability, and national development.
Five Pillars of an Empowered ADC
To translate his vision into concrete reforms, Aregbesola outlined five foundational pillars for ADC renewal:
- Authentic Internal Democracy
— Practice rather than preach. Decision-making at every level, from ward to national, must be transparent and participatory. - Fair Intra-Party Competition
— Candidate selection and leadership contests must be governed by clear rules, open debate, and impartial adjudication. - Efficient Organizational Structures
— Functional committees in every local community will drive policy research, voter education, and community engagement year-round. - Inclusive Representation
— Women, youth, and marginalized groups must hold real decision-making power, not merely occupy token positions on party lists. - Autonomy for Special Interest Wings
— Professionals, educators, farmers, security sector veterans, persons with disabilities, and other stakeholders will have autonomous sub-structures to develop specialized policies and advocate for sectoral priorities.
These reforms, he insisted, will “model international best practices in party organization, administration, and ethics,” drawing lessons from Sweden’s transparent primaries, Chile’s policy commissions, and Kenya’s youth-led caucuses—adapted, of course, to Nigeria’s unique context.
From Vision to Action: The Road Ahead
Aregbesola concluded by stressing that lofty ideals must be matched by disciplined implementation. He promised to convene a national workshop within 30 days to draft a comprehensive ADC constitution reflecting these principles, followed by state-level “roadshows” to train ward leaders in grassroots mobilization and digital engagement techniques. Performance metrics—such as membership growth, internal election turnout, and policy adoption rates—will be published quarterly to ensure accountability.
“Discipline, order, clarity of purpose, and service to the people must define us,” Aregbesola affirmed. He challenged every ADC member to hold themselves and the party leadership to this high standard, invoking not just the struggle for political power, but the broader struggle for Nigeria’s democratic soul.
As the ADC embarks on this period of renewal under Rauf Aregbesola’s stewardship, the stakes are clear: either the party rises to become a credible alternative rooted in principle, or it risks being swallowed by the same opportunistic churn that has stunted Nigeria’s political development for decades. With this clarion call, Aregbesola has set both an ambitious agenda and a high bar for delivery—one that will test the party’s resolve and Nigeria’s appetite for genuine democratic reform.
Written with reports from Atlantic Digest
