Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, on July 2, 2025, accepted his appointment as National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), strengthening the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement led by David Mark to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Aregbesola, who defected from the APC in 2024 after disputes with President Bola Tinubu, announced his role at an ADC rally in Osogbo, attended by 5,000 supporters. “I’m here to serve Nigeria’s 80 million voters seeking change from APC’s 33% inflation and insecurity,” he said, leveraging his 70% approval rating in Osun.
The ADC, with 1 million members, aims to merge PDP and Labour Party structures, targeting 15 million votes. Aregbesola’s experience, including delivering 500,000 votes in 2019, positions him to mobilize the South-West’s 7 million electorate. The coalition, costing N200 million in logistics, faces challenges from APC’s 20 state governorships, but Aregbesola’s appointment has boosted ADC’s membership by 10%. He plans a nationwide tour by Q3 2025, focusing on youth unemployment, affecting 40% of Nigeria’s 70 million young adults.