By Peter Omopo
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as a coordinated campaign of intimidation against its National Secretary and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC criticised efforts to brand Aregbesola a traitor to the Yoruba people, describing such moves as “dangerous, undemocratic, and disgraceful.”
Aregbesola, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the ADC, has faced mounting criticism from some supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The ADC accused Tinubu’s loyalists of attempting to mobilise the Yoruba and South-West electorate against him for “merely exercising his democratic rights.”
“This is sheer perfidy and should be condemned,” Abdullahi said.
The party linked the development to the August 14 disruption of an ADC rally in Sagamu, Ogun State, where Aregbesola was billed to campaign for the party’s House of Representatives bye-election candidate, Solomon Osho. His loyalists had also alleged a plot to eliminate him.
Drawing historical parallels, Abdullahi recalled that Tinubu, during his tenure as Lagos governor, openly challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo and even antagonised Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, yet was never branded a betrayer of Yoruba interests.
“No one challenged Obasanjo’s government more vociferously than BAT, who almost made Lagos State an alternative source of power—rightly so. Yet no one accused him of treachery against the Yoruba race,” Abdullahi argued.
He questioned the current attempt to “demonise” Aregbesola, stressing that President Tinubu does not embody the entire South-West.
“Attempts to demonise Aregbesola and other Yoruba leaders in the opposition are inimical to the long-term political interests of the Yoruba people. President BAT is not the South West, and the South West is not him,” the statement read.
The ADC alleged that fear of Aregbesola’s political influence was fueling the hostility against him, warning that recruiting figures such as Sunday Igboho into the feud risked pushing a narrative that tribal loyalty supersedes national interest.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is immensely capable of fighting his own battles. But as a party, we condemn this act of intolerance and assault on freedom. It must cease immediately,” the ADC declared.
