By Abuja, Nigeria
A Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has dismissed claims that he defected to the party, insisting that he deliberately chose it as a political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a video shared on X on Monday, February 23 and cited by AfrikTimes, Aregbesola who was addressing party supporters, explained that his decision to align with the ADC was intentional and driven by his broader political vision.
According to him, the move followed unsuccessful attempts to reform the All Progressives Congress (APC) from within. He alleged that the party’s leadership ignored repeated calls for internal reforms and instead expelled him and his loyalists without due process.
“After a long effort to correct the madness in APC, which the current leadership refused to address, they expelled me without due process. All those who were with me were also expelled,” he said.
The former Osun State governor noted that the expulsion left his group with limited options.
“We had two choices: to abandon politics or remain and find a new platform to pursue our vision for our people and the nation. I joined ADC as a platform to lead Nigerians from the darkness it is now to a new light,” Aregbesola stated.
The ADC had earlier, in January 2025, announced his expulsion over alleged anti-party activities. Aregbesola previously led a faction known as “The Osun Progressives,” later rebranded as the “Omoluabi Caucus.”
He also cautioned political leaders against relying solely on elite alliances and realignments as a strategy for the 2027 elections, arguing that Nigerians are increasingly judging governments based on economic performance, governance quality, and responsiveness to citizens’ needs rather than party size or endorsements.
