Aregbesola Urges ADC Supporters to Focus on Facts, Not Insults

Lagos, Nigeria —Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has called on members and supporters of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) to uphold civility in political discourse and engage critics with facts rather than insults.

The appeal came during Aregbesola’s arrival in Lagos from Abuja on Friday, following the public unveiling of the ADC—a coalition-backed party positioned as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement shared via his social media handles, Aregbesola expressed gratitude to party supporters who welcomed him at the airport. He emphasized that while political tensions may rise, ADC members must conduct themselves with discipline and integrity.

We are not in a battle of insults,” Aregbesola said. “When attacked or provoked, respond with facts—on food prices, inflation, the economy, cost of living, and poverty. Let our response be rooted in truth, not hostility.”

He further stressed the importance of issue-based engagement in political debates, encouraging supporters to articulate their positions clearly and promote the ADC as a credible platform for Nigeria’s future.

“Let our message be focused on what matters to Nigerians. We must present the ADC as a serious and visionary alternative capable of delivering real progress,”  he stated.

A former governor of Osun State and once a close ally of President Tinubu, Aregbesola’s political trajectory has recently shifted. Their fallout began in 2022 after a rift over the governorship re-election bid of Gboyega Oyetola—Tinubu’s nephew and Aregbesola’s successor. Aregbesola’s faction, ‘Omoluabi,’ withdrew support for Oyetola, instead backing Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who eventually won the election.

As the ADC gains momentum, Aregbesola’s message reflects a broader strategy to reposition the party as a constructive, fact-driven movement aimed at national transformation.

By Adeola Olaniya | July 5, 2025