South-West ADC Leaders Demand Aregbesola’s Removal as National Secretary

South-West ADC Leaders Demand Aregbesola’s Removal as Interim National Secretary
They accuse him of constitutional violations and creating parallel party structures.
Petitioners also allege interference in candidate selection and primary election processes.

Some leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West have called for the removal of Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s Interim National Secretary.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the demand was contained in a petition dated July 28, 2026, signed by ADC officials across the region and addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark.

The party leaders accused Aregbesola of allegedly violating the ADC constitution and worsening internal crises within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the petition, the ADC chieftains said they reached the decision during an emergency meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

They alleged that Aregbesola’s conduct had plunged the party into what they described as avoidable crises across the South-West.

The petition was signed by Ogun State ADC Secretary, Olusoji Adebiyi; Osun State Acting Chairman, Abideen Okanlawon; Osun State Youth Leader, Adesola Akitunde; Oyo State factional ADC Chairman, Yinka Olona; Oyo State ADC member, Adebimpe Adelowo; and Ekiti State ADC Chairman, Ilesanmi Olaiya, among others.

The petition was also copied to members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, the party’s 2027 presidential and vice presidential candidates, and the National Legal Adviser.

The petitioners alleged that Aregbesola created a parallel structure across South-West states under the name “Omoluabi Progressive”.

They further accused him of parading members of the group as legitimate ADC executives from the ward to the state level, claiming that such actions were contrary to the party’s constitution.

The leaders cited Article 22, Section 1, subsections 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the ADC constitution.

According to them, the provisions cover offences including constitutional breaches, actions capable of bringing the party into disrepute, disobedience to lawful directives, creation of parallel party organs and collusion to convene unauthorised meetings.

The petitioners also accused the former Osun State governor of allegedly interfering in the party’s candidate selection process.

They claimed that on the final day for uploading National Assembly candidates, Aregbesola “colluded with some cohorts within INEC” to remove candidates who had emerged from INEC monitored primaries.

According to the petitioners, the candidates were allegedly replaced with members of the Omoluabi Progressive group who had not purchased nomination forms.

The ADC leaders also blamed Aregbesola for what they described as lingering crises in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.

They alleged that he usurped the responsibilities of the National Organising Secretary by appointing parallel primary election committees and submitting the committees to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The South-West leaders called for action against Aregbesola, arguing that his alleged activities were creating divisions within the party and could undermine its preparations for the 2027 elections.

They urged the national leadership of the ADC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate disciplinary measures in line with the party’s constitution.

South-West ADC Leaders Demand Aregbesola’s Removal as National Secretary

The allegations contained in the petition are yet to be independently verified, while Aregbesola and other officials accused by the petitioners had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of filing this report.