The political atmosphere in Ilorin, Kwara State, took a dramatic turn on Saturday as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) officially opened its state secretariat and used the event to fire serious shots at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the launch, former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, accused the APC of mismanaging the country and weaponizing power against opposition voices.
“Under the current administration, hunger has taken over the land. Governance has been reduced to personal enrichment and political intimidation,” he said.
Aregbesola, who once served as Nigeria’s Minister of Interior under the APC-led government, has recently rebranded himself as a critic of the party he helped build. His words in Ilorin signal a clear break from the ruling party’s leadership, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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 actions as “undemocratic and intolerant.”
He said the ADC offers a new direction, branding it the “party of conscience and service.” According to him, the growing public disillusionment with the APC presents a golden opportunity for the ADC to step in.
Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed also spoke at the event. He described the unveiling of the ADC Secretariat as the start of a new political journey in the state.
“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 said.
Joining the chorus was Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary and former Minister of Youth and Sports. Abdullahi dismissed the PDP as a “dead party,” saying the ADC is now the only credible alternative to the APC.
“The question is no longer whether Kwarans want the APC; that question has been answered. They don’t,” he said.
Abdullahi also raised concerns about rising insecurity across Kwara, saying rural communities have been left helpless, with farmers unable to work safely.
“Our people can no longer farm safely. The government must do more to restore peace,” he said.
As 2027 inches closer, the ADC appears to be positioning itself as the most vocal opposition platform in Nigeria – at least in Kwara State. With political heavyweights like Aregbesola, Abdullahi, and Ahmed backing its cause, the party is betting on widespread dissatisfaction to push its agenda.
