The crisis within the African Democratic Congress escalated on Thursday as the party’s South-West caucus accused its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, of actions allegedly undermining coordination and progress in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The caucus raised the concerns following a review of the party’s recently concluded national convention in Abuja, noting that the challenges went beyond the event and reflected deeper issues affecting unity, coordination and preparedness in the zone.
In a statement issued after a stakeholders’ meeting, the National Director of Communication and Programmes, Dr Babatunde Oke, who spoke on behalf of the South-West leadership led by Rahman Owokoniran, said the caucus had identified what it described as a major internal problem impacting the region.
While emphasising the need for unity and cooperation, the caucus lamented that the situation had persisted despite repeated complaints to the party’s national leadership.
It stated that several concerns had been formally communicated to the party’s headquarters, particularly regarding membership registration, expansion efforts and the conduct of activities in the region.
The caucus described the South-West’s performance at the national convention as disappointing, noting that the turnout from the region fell short of expectations.
It also questioned Aregbesola’s commitment to the party’s objectives, urging him to clarify his position.
According to the statement, the actions attributed to the national secretary had contributed to internal disorganisation, including the emergence of parallel structures and duplicate state congresses within the zone.
The development, it added, had created avoidable tension and embarrassment for the party.
The South-West leaders further called on the party’s national leadership, headed by its chairman, Senator David Mark, to urgently intervene and address the situation to prevent further escalation.
They warned that unresolved internal disputes could weaken the party’s prospects in the region if not promptly handled.
The caucus stressed that the focus should remain on strengthening the party’s structures and consolidating its base ahead of future elections.
It urged all stakeholders to desist from actions capable of causing division, insisting that the party could not afford distractions at a critical stage of its development.
The leaders also cautioned against activities they described as anti-party, calling for an immediate halt to actions that could undermine the ADC’s growth and stability in the South-West.
