Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has declared the ADC as the only credible alternative for Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Aregbesola made this statement on Saturday during the official opening of the ADC’s new Kwara State secretariat in Ilorin.
Speaking at the event, the former governor criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what he called years of failed leadership and mismanagement of the country’s affairs. He said the country needs a political shift, and that the ADC is ready to provide Nigerians with a government rooted in service, discipline, and accountability.
“Under the current administration, hunger has taken over the land,” Aregbesola said. “Governance has been reduced to personal enrichment and political intimidation. Nigerians are suffering because of the failure of leadership under the APC.”
He noted that the rising cost of living, insecurity, and lack of basic services have made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians, especially the youth and working population. According to him, Nigerians are beginning to realise that the country needs a new kind of leadership, and the ADC is well-positioned to offer that.
“The hardship being experienced today will only push more people to seek change,” he added. “That change is ADC.”
Also speaking at the event, former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the rise of ADC in the state signals the beginning of a new political movement that puts the people first.
“Kwara is going to be different because the ADC is poised to entrench a new order that represents the true will of our people,” Ahmed said.
He spoke on the challenges farmers are facing due to insecurity, especially in rural communities, and called for a more serious approach to safety and agricultural development.
“Our farmers are suffering. Many can no longer go to their farms due to fear of bandits and kidnappers. The government must restore confidence in the security system,” he said.
Ahmed stated that the ADC would focus on building a governance system that reflects the real needs of the people and restores hope to the ordinary citizen.
In his remarks, Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of Youth and Sports and now National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, said the PDP has lost its relevance as an opposition party, and that the ADC is now Nigeria’s only true alternative.
“Would you believe this party was unveiled in Kwara just three months ago? Yet today, you see the people embracing it,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that many Nigerians have lost faith in both APC and PDP and are seeking a new political direction.
“The question is no longer whether Kwarans want the APC — they don’t. The real question is whether we can show them that ADC is different and credible. That’s our focus between now and 2027,” he said.
Abdullahi also raised concern over the rising insecurity in Kwara, especially in remote communities, and said the ADC is committed to restoring safety and good governance.
“Our people can no longer farm safely, they cannot travel freely. This is not acceptable. That’s why we are building a party that will defend and represent their interests,” he added.
With general elections less than two years away, the ADC appears to be positioning itself as a serious political force, especially in states like Kwara where voters have shown signs of dissatisfaction with the current leadership.
The unveiling of the party’s secretariat and the presence of major political figures like Aregbesola and Abdulfatah Ahmed could mark the start of a broader national campaign to challenge Nigeria’s two main parties.
