ADC South-west zone dismisses reports of division

The South-West zone of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected media reports suggesting division within the zone, describing them as false, malicious, and fabricated.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the ADC Zonal Chairman, Hon. Akinbowale Omole, affirmed that the party in the South-west remains fully united and firmly aligned with the national leadership.

The statement read, “We have read with utter dismay reports in some media outlets about an alleged division in the Southwest zone of the ADC.

“We state categorically that the story is a cruel fabrication designed to create a false impression of disunity and fragmentation within our party.

“The ADC in the South-west and indeed across the country is in stable hands under the leadership of our esteemed National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and our indefatigable National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“We are aware that the ADC has become a target of anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine our great party. However, we remain resolute. As they contrive, we shall prevail.

“We are confident that our party will triumph, and when we win, Nigeria will win through a clear path to prosperity and the restoration of peace.”

Hon. Omole emphasised that the South-west chapter of the ADC is solidly united and completely committed to the vision of the national leadership.

He further stated: “It is however regrettable that a group of individuals who have no respect for the national leadership of our party constituted themselves into a parallel authority.

“For the avoidance of doubt, when these persons attempted to appoint themselves into South-west party positions on January 31, 2026, the national secretariat, through the National Publicity Secretary, promptly issued a disclaimer and directed them to stop such recklessness.

“Despite this directive, they went ahead to install themselves as the South-west executive. When approval was eventually granted to constitute the legitimate South-west Executive, an all-South-west stakeholders’ meeting was duly convened on February 10, 2026. Nominations were made and adopted at that meeting.

“The nominations of officers into the South-west Executive followed due process and received the approval of the National Caucus at its sitting on March 7, 2026, as well as the endorsement of the National Chairman.

“The current South-west Executive was duly constituted in line with the party’s constitution.”

Hon. Omole reiterated that the ADC South-west is one united family with no division whatsoever and remains loyal to the national leadership.

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Last week, a factional leadership of the zone led by Honourable Rahman Owokoniran accused the National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, of being a stumbling block in the progress of the party in the South-west and called for urgent action.

He was alleged to have unilaterally orchestrated duplicated zonal leadership and state leadership across the South-west, as well as the unauthorised issuance of appointment letters to cronies without the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

They said the development was responsible for what they called the ridiculous and disgraceful representations at the just-concluded National Convention of the party from the South-west, where the Head of Administration of the party comes from, stressing that “This should call for sober reflection among the stakeholders.”

“We as leaders in the region are committed to anything that can give us victory. We are ready to work with anyone who shares this patriotic value with us. We don’t need distractions. The party doesn’t need such at this critical stage we find ourselves. If they are not working for All Progressives Congress (APC) within African Democratic Congress (ADC), then they should desist from creating frictions in the zone. If truly they are for the success of our great party, then they should put an immediate end to these anti-party activities and tendencies,” the statement read in part.