The officially recognized Southwest leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed allegations against the party’s National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, describing them as baseless and the work of “disgruntled elements” loyal to Kachikwu Ibe and Hon. Abejide, who recently lost their case at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement signed by the ADC National Vice Chairman, South West, Hon. Akinbowale Omole, the zonal leadership said it was necessary to set the record straight after a petition was sent to the National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, calling for Aregbesola’s removal.

The statement followed a meeting of recognized zonal and national officers from the South West held in Ibadan.
In attendance were Hon. Akinbowale Omole; Capt. Olatunji Shelle, National Director of Communication & Strategy; Mrs. Omolara Oseni, Zonal Organizing Secretary; Dr. Bode Ojerinde; Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, Deputy National Financial Secretary; Alh. Kafila Olayiwola, Deputy National Woman Leader; and Chief Mrs. Lydia Olafunmiloye, Zonal Woman Leader.

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Omole said those behind the petition were “parading themselves as leaders of the party in the Southwest, a claim not recognized by the party’s national leadership.”

“First, these are the same individuals who dragged the party to court despite repeated efforts at reconciliation, which they rebuffed,” he said.
“Second, the allegations against the National Secretary are baseless, unsubstantiated, and misleading.”
He explained that under the ADC constitution, the National Executive Committee (NEC), not the National Secretary, ratifies primary election results.
“It defies logic that the national secretary, who serves as the party’s chief accounting officer and saddled with the responsibility of carrying out party decisions… would be accused of establishing parallel structures or manipulating the outcome of the primaries,” Omole stated.

“The composition of the primaries committees, the conduct of the primaries, and management of the outcomes are the decisions of the National Executive Committee of the party and not that of the National Secretary.”
He added that “the NEC of the party duly approved the outcome of the primaries before names of candidates were forwarded to INEC.
The zonal chairman said the ADC in the South West “knows its leaders and definitely not those who issued the false and disparaging statement.”
“They have followed the wrong path and have burnt their fingers. They should be humble enough to retrace their steps and come under the constituted authority of the party. We will not submit the affairs of this party to rascals,” he said.
Omole accused the petitioners of breaching party directives during congresses and primaries, only to now accuse Aregbesola of the same conduct.
“Their recent actions reflect frustration at having failed to destabilize the party from within – an effort the National Secretary firmly resisted,” he said.
The statement reaffirmed that the South West zonal leadership “remains under Rt. Hon. Akinbowale Omole.”

In the communique signed by Omole after the meeting, the party warned the individuals to desist from impersonating party leadership, threatening to “make public the details of certain meetings held with groups opposed to the leadership of Sen. David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola” if the attacks continue.