Defecting Governors Are Enemies of the People – Says Aregbesola

Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has labeled governors defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “enemies of the people.”

Aregbesola, who is also a former governor of Osun State, expressed unwavering confidence that his party will take over the leadership of Nigeria and most states in the 2027 general elections.

He made these statements on Saturday in Ilorin, after commissioning the new Kwara State secretariat of the party.

Speaking with journalists, the former minister accused the APC of intimidation and harassment of opposition members across the country, stating that the party’s actions show fear rather than strength.

“If APC is confident of its strength, it won’t be so hyped and charged as to be hounding and hunting opposition all over the place,” Aregbesola said.
“They are harassing and intimidating every one of our members nationwide— in Lagos, Kebbi, Kaduna, everywhere. If indeed they are confident, they would be calm. The reverse is the case, which shows they know they are not popular. The party that will harvest their unpopularity is ADC.”

He declared that ADC, “by the grace of God,” would take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria and several states in the next general elections, despite the APC’s “grandstanding.”

Commenting specifically on the recent wave of defections, Aregbesola was scathing in his assessment of the governors switching allegiance.

“The governors going to APC are enemies of the people, and the people know this. They are hated, so it is good riddance to bad rubbish,” he said.

Also speaking, the immediate past governor of Kwara State and new ADC member, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the party is fully prepared to take over leadership at all levels in 2027.

“The party has been prepared and is here to stay. This is the beginning of a new direction in our political experience, and we are poised to take over leadership of the country in 2027,” Ahmed said.

In his remarks, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, took a swipe at the opposition PDP, saying the party had become politically irrelevant.