Former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), backed by a coalition of opposition heavyweights, will unseat President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The Former Interior Minister, who is now the Interim Secretary of the ADC, however, urged stakeholders to put aside personal interests and unite to achieve their aim of unseating the incumbent administration.
Naijaonpoint reports that Aregbesola, once a close ally of Tinubu, made the call on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, Ondo State.
“Let us work together. Let’s put personal interests aside and unite. If we do this, we won’t be defeated. Unity is very paramount in this situation,” Aregbesola said.
Tinubu Will Fall If We Unite – Aregbesola
Speaking further at the meeting, the former Governor noted that the ADC is gaining momentum and now enjoys the support of influential opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
“The ADC has garnered significant support… We’re building a coalition movement to challenge Tinubu in the next election,” he added.
Aregbesola further urged undecided stakeholders to join the party’s ranks, warning that the nation was teetering on the edge and in dire need of rescue.
In his remarks, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Gbenga Edema, commended the coalition’s direction, criticising the APC for weaponising propaganda.
“The coalition adopted ADC as the platform to manage our affairs. Aregbesola has briefed us clearly today. The court cases some people have hyped are inconsequential,” Edema stated.
He insisted the opposition remains laser-focused on its mission to dislodge the ruling party.
Also speaking at the meeting, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Akin Akinbobola, decried the deteriorating state of the nation under APC governance.
“Nigeria is sinking. There’s hunger, insecurity, collapsed infrastructure, and a lack of transparency in governance,” Akinbobola lamented.
He said the coalition, through the ADC, offers a chance to bring together progressive minds and salvage the country.
“We’re gathering like a tsunami. The coalition is a large army and there’s room for everyone. More APC bigwigs will soon join,” he added.
Meanwhile, the interim leadership of the ADC has moved to dispel fears among its state chapter leaders.
Naijaonpoint reports that at a meeting held in Abuja at the residence of Interim National Chairman Senator David Mark, the party’s 37 state chairmen, including the FCT, were reassured of their full inclusion in the coalition-building efforts.
Speaking after the meeting, the interim National Spokesman, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “We have invited all the state chairmen here to assure them we’re not pushing anyone out. We are working with them as partners to build a stronger party.”
Kingsley Ogga, Chairman of the ADC Forum of State Chairmen, reiterated that the party remains intact and focused.