The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday declared that the party’s quest to win the 2026 governorship poll in Osun State is already having a divine support.

Aregbesola spoke in Osogbo at the reception organised to mark the 60th birthday of an ex-Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam.

Salaam served as the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2018, when Aregbesola was the governor of the state.

The ex-Osun Governor, who spoke in Yoruba language, after acknowledging the presence of the incumbent Speaker of the State Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, and the representative of the state governor, George Alabi, said he would not want to offend either of the two men with his speech.

READ ALSO:ADC: Why INEC Has Not Recognised David Mark, Others

He subsequently stated that God is supporting his new party to win the state in the next poll.

After rendering many songs purporting good fortune in the offing for his party in the 2026 governorship election in the state and the general elections in 2027, Aregbesola said, “I don’t want to offend the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Egbedun, and the representative of the governor. But I am very sure that it is our own (ADC) that God will support.”

Earlier, the Speaker of the Osun State House Assembly, Egbedun, noted Salaam’s contributions to the State democratic experience when he served as Speaker.

READ ALSO:ADC Slams Tinubu Over Mounting Debts, Demands Audit

“You have always been my role model. The 8th Assembly is proud to associate with you. We see you as a role model.

“I told my people that I will relocate to my community if they elect me. I did it because I saw you, being the only Speaker in the history of Osun that holds his House firmly,” Egbedun said.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Salaam, called on Osun residents to avoid violence during the forthcoming poll, promising not to relent in campaign for politics without bitterness.
(PUNCH)

The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, on Friday charged President Bola Tinubu to pay Osun State’s local government allocation funds without delay.

The monarch, who made the call in an interview with newsmen at the Osun Osogbo Festival programme in Osogbo, said: “The Federal Government needs Osun’s vote in 2027. Osun cannot be ignored, and Osogbo people have already sent me to Tinubu that our vote is for him. Why is he now scared?”

He said: “Tinubu should release our money. Those of you who have the chance to speak to the President should tell him to release the money they are owing Osun State to our governor. Once they do that, when it’s time for the election, I will be available.

READ ALSO:

“Some royal fathers have come to meet me to ask about what we will do on the issue, but I don’t want to be too forward, and I’ve been waiting for the leader of the royal fathers to call a meeting. This really concerns me. The Secretary to the State Government is my own, however, the governor, deputy governor, and Chief of Staff have monarchs in the towns they come from also.

“They should also call those monarchs. Why should I be the one to lead? When we get to Abuja, I know what to say there, ”Nigerian Tribune quoted him.

Reason has emerged why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to accord recognition to the interim National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Investigations revealed that the erstwhile National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, in a letter dated July 29, 2025, and addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, informed him of resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ADC held on the same date, “which empowers NEC to exercise the powers and perform all the functions of the National Convention pending the next National Convention.”

The NEC at that meeting effected changes in its leadership and informed the INEC so.

The letter to INEC, it was learnt, listed the names of 44 new national officers of the party. Listed among them by Ralph Nwosu were Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Dr Mani Ibrahim, as National Chairman, National Secretary and National Treasurer, respectively.

READ ALSO:ADC Slams Tinubu Over Mounting Debts, Demands Audit

Checks by Saturday Tribune on the INEC website, however, revealed that the commission still lists Ralph Nwosu, Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi and Mr Cavin Alagoa as National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Treasurer of the ADC, respectively. The website also lists Mrs Ifeyinwa Ntima as National Financial Secretary.

A source within INEC who spoke with Saturday Tribune in confidence explained why the electoral umpire was yet to accord official recognition to the David Mark-led interim leadership despite the formal notification by the party.

The source, who acknowledged receipt of the letter written by Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi, the immediate past National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, noted that the commission was yet to recognise Senator Mark and Aregbesola as the new National Chairman and Secretary because the letter dated July 29, 2025, was not properly written.

READ ALSO:Davido Thrills In Toronto, Brooklyn As US Tour Heats Up

The source said: “The letter only listed 44 names of new national officers without their signatures. It is proper that we have in our custody specimens of their signatures. That’s when we would act on their letter.”

Asked if the commission was reluctant to accept the new leadership due to the ongoing tussle within the party, the INEC source dismissed the insinuation.

“No, we have nothing against the process. In fact, we were present and monitored the process where those resolutions were taken,” the source added.