The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exhibiting blatant intolerance towards opposition voices and weaponising state power to stifle dissent.
Speaking on Saturday at the unveiling of the ADC’s new state secretariat in Ilorin, Kwara State, Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior, lambasted the APC-led government, alleging that it had failed Nigerians through what he described as a dangerous mix of greed, incompetence, and authoritarianism.
“Under the current administration, hunger has taken over the land. Governance has been reduced to personal enrichment and political intimidation. Nigerians are suffering because of the failure of leadership at all levels under the APC,” he stated.
Aregbesola went further to accuse the APC of undemocratic practices, claiming that opposition figures were routinely harassed and silenced by those in power.
“If the APC is confident of its strength, it would not be hounding and haunting opposition members everywhere,” he added, describing the ruling party’s conduct as “oppressive and undemocratic.”
He hailed the ADC as a “party of conscience and service,” asserting that it remains the only credible political alternative for Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The hatred of Nigerians for the ruling party is obvious, and the party that will harvest that unpopularity is the ADC,” he declared.
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A new political chapter in Kwara
Also speaking at the event, former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, described the opening of the ADC Secretariat as the start of a new era in the state’s political trajectory.
“This is the beginning of a new direction in our political experience. The ADC is poised to entrench a party that reflects the true aspirations of Kwarans,” Ahmed remarked.
Echoing similar sentiments, the ADC National Publicity Secretary and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, took aim at both the APC and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He described the PDP as a “dead party awaiting its obituary,” insisting that only the ADC remained a viable opposition force in the country.
“The question is no longer whether Kwarans want the APC; that question has been answered. They don’t. The question now is whether we can convince them that the ADC is the only alternative—and that’s exactly what we’ll do in the coming elections,” Abdullahi said.
Insecurity, rural displacement
Abdullahi also raised concerns over escalating insecurity across rural communities in Kwara State, lamenting its devastating impact on agriculture and livelihoods.
“Our people can no longer farm safely. The government must do more to restore peace and ensure that the lives of citizens are protected,” he urged.
The event comes as political momentum begins to build ahead of the 2027 general elections, with discontent over economic hardship, insecurity, and governance failures fuelling renewed interest in alternative political platforms.
The ADC leaders concluded the event by calling on Nigerians to reject the status quo and embrace what they described as a new path of hope, accountability, and national renewal.
