Rauf Aregbesola has made clear his determination to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. Accepting the position of interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Aregbesola says he sees this role as a chance to build a people-first party and to offer Nigerians a real alternative to Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement this week, Aregbesola argued that Nigeria’s major parties have lost their way, operating as “empty shells” driven by personalities rather than principles. He believes that under Tinubu’s watch, the APC has strayed from democratic values like the rule of law, social justice, transparency, and accountability.
A genuine political movement must empower citizens, educate them on their rights, and hold leaders to account,” Aregbesola said. “That is what I intend to bring to the ADC and why I’m committed to removing Tinubu in 2027.”
Aregbesola’s break with Tinubu was years in the making. After serving as Works Commissioner in Lagos, he was elected Governor of Osun State in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform.
Later, he joined Tinubu’s APC and served as Federal Minister of Interior, but a falling-out in January prompted his departure. Reflecting on those experiences, Aregbesola concluded that strong party institutions, rooted in ideas, not patronage, are essential for Nigeria’s progress.
His new role with the ADC follows an agreement by a coalition of opposition figures, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to adopt the ADC as their joint platform for the 2027 race.
Retired Major General David Mark will chair the coalition, Bolaji Abdullahi serves as spokesperson, and Aregbesola will oversee party organisation. In May, Atiku travelled to Osogbo to secure Aregbesola’s backing, signalling a united front against Tinubu’s government.
Within the ADC, Aregbesola plans to overhaul internal structures, recruit members from every region, and craft policies that tackle Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. He points to rising insecurity in the North-Central, sluggish economic growth, and high unemployment as issues the current administration has failed to solve.
“We must put people first,” he emphasises. “A political party should not be a private club. It must be a living institution that listens to citizens and stands by its principles, even when doing so is inconvenient.”
As interim National Secretary, Aregbesola will work to translate this vision into action. He aims to train local leaders in grassroots mobilisation, launch town-hall dialogues to gather citizen input, and develop a clear policy agenda that contrasts sharply with Tinubu’s record. By focusing on transparency and accountability, he hopes to rebuild public trust in the political process.
Looking ahead to the ADC’s national convention later this year, all eyes will be on how effectively Aregbesola can turn an underdog party into a credible challenger.
If he succeeds, the 2027 election may become a referendum not just on Tinubu’s presidency but on the very nature of political power in Nigeria. For Aregbesola, the goal is clear: remove Tinubu from office and replace top-down politics with a government truly committed to the people.
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