South-West ADC backs Aregbesola, dismisses removal petition as baseless

The South-West leadership of Nigeria's African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly supported National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, denouncing a petition seeking his removal as unfounded. The zonal leadership, led by National Vice Chairman (South-West) Akinbowale Omole, convened a meeting of recognized national and zonal officers from the region to issue a clarification.

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Our attention has been drawn to a petition addressed to our National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, calling for the removal of our National Secretary. This petition was authored by certain individuals parading themselves as leaders of the party in the South-West, a claim not recognised by the party’s national leadership.

Omole stated that the allegations against Aregbesola were false and that the National Executive Committee, not the National Secretary, is responsible for approving candidates for the 2027 general elections. He identified the petitioners as "disgruntled elements" aligned with former minister Kachikwu Ibe and federal lawmaker Leke Abejide, who recently faced a legal setback at the Court of Appeal.

A statement released on Monday detailed the attendees of the meeting, including National Director of Communication and Strategy Capt. Olatunji Shelle, Zonal Organising Secretary Mrs Omolara Oseni, and Deputy National Financial Secretary Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, among others. The zonal leadership rejected a petition addressed to National Chairman Sen. David Mark, which claimed to represent the ADC in the South-West and called for Aregbesola's dismissal.

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First, these are the same individuals who dragged the party to court despite repeated efforts at reconciliation, which they rebuffed. Second, the allegations against the National Secretary are baseless, unsubstantiated, and misleading.

"Our attention has been drawn to a petition addressed to our National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, calling for the removal of our National Secretary. This petition was authored by certain individuals parading themselves as leaders of the party in the South-West, a claim not recognised by the party’s national leadership," the statement read. The leadership emphasized that these petitioners had previously initiated legal action against the party despite reconciliation efforts, which they rejected. They argued that the accusations against the National Secretary ignored his constitutional role, as he merely implements decisions made by the party's highest organs.

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Thirdly, it defies logic that the National Secretary, who serves as the party’s chief accounting officer and is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out party decisions as may be determined, from time to time, by the party’s highest organ, would be accused of establishing parallel structures or manipulating the outcome of the primaries.