Aregbesola Gets South-West ADC Backing Amid Removal Calls

The South-West chapter of the African Democratic Congress has come out in strong support of the party's National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, dismissing as baseless the allegations leveled against him. This move follows a meeting of the party's recognized national and zonal officers from the region, who described those behind the allegations as disgruntled elements loyal to a former minister and a federal lawmaker. The party's National Vice Chairman for the South-West, Akinbowale Omole, led the zonal leadership in issuing a statement that described the allegations against Aregbesola as false and misleading. Omole stated that the meeting was attended by several party officials, including himself, Capt. Olatunji Shelle, Mrs Omolara Oseni, Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, Alhaja Kafila Olayiwola, Mrs Lydia Olafunmiloye, and Dr Bode Ojerinde. The statement rejected a petition calling for Aregbesola's removal as National Secretary, which was purportedly written by individuals claiming to represent the ADC in the South-West. The zonal leadership argued that the petitioners were the same individuals who had previously dragged the party to court despite repeated reconciliation efforts. According to the statement, these individuals had ignored the constitutional role of the National Secretary, who merely implements decisions taken by the party's highest organs. The leadership maintained that the individuals behind the petition did not represent the party's recognized leadership in the South-West and had no authority to speak on its behalf. The party warned those claiming to represent the zone to desist from impersonation, stating that the recognized South-West leadership remains under Omole.