The South-West leadership of the African Democratic Congress has reaffirmed its authority in the region, dismissing a competing claim to its leadership as invalid and contrary to party procedure.
The faction led by Hon. Rahman Owokoniran insisted that it remains the duly recognised leadership of the party in the South-West, with backing from the national structure.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Director of Communication and Programmes, Dr Babatunde Oke, the group rejected claims by Akinbowale Omole to the zonal chairmanship, describing the assertion as baseless.
The leadership also clarified that its earlier position had been misrepresented, stressing that it remained fully aligned with the party’s national leadership.
According to the statement, the inauguration of the Owokoniran-led South-West executive was properly approved and documented by the national secretariat.
It said the exercise was supervised by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Bamidele Ajadi, and attended by South-West state chairmen and other stakeholders, with formal reports submitted to the national leadership.
The group further questioned claims that the National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, conducted a separate inauguration or issued appointment letters, insisting that such actions do not reflect the party’s constitutional processes.
It maintained that changes in leadership structures must follow due process through the National Executive Committee, noting that the National Secretary’s role remains administrative.
Reaffirming loyalty to the national leadership headed by Senator David Mark, the faction said it has continued to operate in harmony with the National Working Committee.
The group dismissed suggestions of internal rebellion, describing such claims as misleading and politically motivated.
“The impression that we are working against the national leadership is not only false but exposes hypocrisy and poor understanding of party structure,” the statement read.
It warned that attempts to create parallel leadership structures could undermine the party’s stability and electoral prospects in the region.
The faction urged members to support the constituted leadership, adding that unity was critical to strengthening the party ahead of future elections.
