Aregbesola: Why I accepted to be ADC National Secretary

Aregbesola Appointed ADC National Secretary, Pledges to Rebuild Party on Ideals and Integrity

Former Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been appointed National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to restore the party’s ideological foundation and reposition it as a people-driven political platform.

Speaking during his formal inauguration on Tuesday, Aregbesola delivered a passionate and reflective speech, calling for a return to value-based politics and denouncing the opportunism that dominates Nigeria’s political landscape.

“A political party is not a platform for personal ambition or power-seeking elites,” he said. “It should be a living institution rooted in values, committed to ideals, and accountable to the people it serves.”

Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State, was chosen to lead reforms within the ADC, the political platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group. He promised to usher in a new era of ideological clarity, internal democracy, and year-round political engagement—not just during election seasons.

He sharply criticized the current state of Nigerian politics, describing most parties as lacking direction, ideology, and principle. Drawing inspiration from South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), he urged the ADC to emulate such movements that were “forged in resistance” and committed to justice, dignity, and national development.

“In Nigeria today, too many parties are empty vessels—formed, merged, and split not based on principle or policy, but on the pursuit of power,” he said. “We must be different.”

Outlining his vision, Aregbesola pledged to build a party that is inclusive, disciplined, and transparent. He emphasized internal democracy, saying the ADC would be a party where women, youth, and marginalized groups are not merely symbolic participants, but have real influence and representation.

Among his key priorities include establishing of fair and transparent internal electoral processes, strengthening party structures from the grassroots to the national level, recognizing and empower special interest groups within the party and adopting international best practices in administration and ethics.

He stressed that the ADC must not only speak on issues like education, security, and employment, but take tangible actions to deliver real results.

“We must be the party that talks about public education and builds schools; that discusses security and backs policies that keep our communities safe; that speaks of jobs and actually works to create them,” he said.

While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Aregbesola called for collective responsibility and accountability, urging party members and Nigerians to hold him to his promises.

“Let this be the beginning of a new chapter—not only for our party but for Nigerian democracy,” he said. “Long live our party. Long live our democracy. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Aregbesola’s appointment and address signal a renewed direction for the ADC, as it seeks to establish itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s crowded political space.