The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused loyalists of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of launching a campaign of intimidation against its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
The party stressed that such actions endanger Nigeria’s democracy and undermine the rights of opposition voices.
Aregbesola recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ADC. Since then, critics have branded him a traitor to Yoruba interests.
In a statement on Monday, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, denounced the attacks. He described them as a deliberate strategy to silence dissenting voices.
“It is shocking to see how some Tinubu supporters mobilize the Yoruba against Aregbesola for exercising his democratic rights. This must be condemned,” Abdullahi said.
Disrupted Rally Sparks Concern
The controversy deepened after thugs violently disrupted an ADC rally in Sagamu, Ogun State, on August 14. Aregbesola had planned to campaign for the party’s bye-election candidate, Solomon Osho.
Supporters also alleged that political rivals plotted to eliminate him, raising concerns about his safety.
Abdullahi reminded Nigerians of the unity forged after the annulled June 12, 1993 election. That unity, he argued, later produced Olusegun Obasanjo as president in 1999.
He stressed that Tinubu once openly challenged Obasanjo’s government and built Lagos as an alternative power base. Yet, no one branded him a traitor at that time.
The ADC questioned whether President Tinubu personally endorsed the intimidation. Abdullahi insisted that Yoruba identity should not revolve around a single leader.
“We doubt Asiwaju approved these attacks. President Tinubu does not represent the entire South West, and the South West does not represent him,” Abdullahi stated.
Fear of Aregbesola’s Influence
According to the ADC, fear of Aregbesola’s influence drives the hostility. Abdullahi claimed that Tinubu’s loyalists even recruited Sunday Igboho, a self-proclaimed warlord, to join the campaign.
He warned that the narrative being promoted prioritizes tribal loyalty over national unity, which is both divisive and dangerous.
ADC Reaffirms Democratic Principles
The ADC emphasized that Aregbesola can defend himself politically. However, it condemned the attempt to brand him a traitor, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic values.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is capable of defending his political position. Nevertheless, we strongly reject this intolerance and demand that it ends immediately,” Abdullahi concluded.
