The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said the party is targeting at least 14 million registered members nationwide as part of an aggressive expansion drive to reposition it as a major political force in Nigeria.
Aregbesola made this disclosure in Ibadan, Oyo State, during a South-West stakeholders’ meeting of the party held in Ibadan, where newly appointed zonal executives and national officers from the region were formally inaugurated.
Addressing party leaders, state chairmen and members of the National Working Committee in attendance, the former Osun State Governor said the ADC was embarking on a deliberate membership mobilisation exercise aimed at attracting committed Nigerians dissatisfied with the current political order.
He explained that the party would soon commence a nationwide membership registration programme to drive this objective.
“We will inaugurate a national membership registration exercise immediately. Our goal is to bring in Nigerians who are ready to work for genuine progress. This time, we want to separate the wheat from the chaff by ensuring that only committed and credible people join the party,” Aregbesola said.
He added that the long-term membership projection of the party was ambitious but achievable with coordinated grassroots mobilisation.
“It will be good for us to grow our membership strength to at least 14 million. That is the level of political participation and structure we are building, and we are ready to invest the necessary resources into the party to achieve this,” he stated.
Aregbesola stressed that the ADC was not founded to wage political battles against individuals or rival parties but to build a service-driven political movement.
“We are not fighting anyone. Our mission is to call people into service, from the zonal level to the states, local governments and wards to build a credible political alternative for Nigerians,” he said.
As part of efforts to strengthen party structures in the South-West, Aregbesola directed the newly inaugurated leaders to constitute functional leadership teams across all states in the zone within a stipulated timeframe.
“I am directing the new leadership to form and establish state structures across the South-West within the next two weeks. The national, zonal and state leadership frameworks must be fully operational,” he ordered.
The ADC National Secretary also unveiled plans to establish a regional political assembly that would serve as a convergence platform for progressive leaders.
According to him, the proposed Grand Assembly of Genuine Progressives will draw 100 leaders each from the six South-West states and will be inaugurated in Ibadan.
“This assembly will be inclusive. It will accommodate youths, women and representatives from all local governments. It is part of our broader plan to deepen progressive politics in the South-West,” he added.
In his acceptance address, the leader of the inaugurated executives, the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Akinbowale Omole, assured stakeholders that the new zonal executive was prepared to reposition the party across Yorubaland.
“Be rest assured that we understand what is wrong in Yorubaland and we are ready to fix it. This new executive is prepared to work tirelessly. Anyone who wants to join ADC must also be ready to work,” Omole said.
He pledged that the zonal leadership would collaborate with state structures to strengthen mobilisation and deliver electoral victories for the party.
The meeting also featured the formal inauguration of national and zonal officers from the South-West. Those inaugurated include Akinbowale Omole (Ogun State) as National Vice Chairman (South-West); Captain Tunji Shelle as National Director of Communications and Programmes; Prof. Bode Ayorinde (Ondo State) as Diversity and Inclusion Secretary; Fabiyi Oladimeji (Ogun State) as Deputy National Financial Secretary; Alhaja Kafilat Omolabake Olayiwola (Oyo State) as Deputy National Women Leader; Arc. Bashir Aremu Lawal (Oyo State) as Assistant National Secretary; Olufemi Adeleye (Ekiti State) as Deputy Coordinator, Diaspora; Lady Lydia Omarisola Olafunmiloye (Ondo State) as Assistant National Women Leader (Zonal); Mrs. Elizabeth Adeola Olusi (Lagos State) as Assistant National Youth Leader (Zonal); and Mrs. Yidiat Omolara Oseni (Osun State) as Assistant National Organising Secretary.
Stakeholders present at the event included state chairmen and party leaders from across the South-West, notably Ekiti State Chairman, Ilesanmi Omolayo, and Lagos State Chairman, George Ashiru, among others
