The African Democratic Congress, a platform of the coalition of political parties, unveiled in Ekiti State at the weekend, with bigwigs from the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party joining its ranks.
The party said it was ready to deliver a people-oriented government in the state in 2026.
Present at the unveiling exercise on Saturday were former Deputy Governor and ex-PDP governorship candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka; former information commissioner, Akin Omole; ex-commissioner, Segun Akinwumi; and former Secretary to the State Government, Dare Bejide.
Speaking shortly after officially receiving the ADC membership card on the occasion, Olusola-Eleka said, “We are unveiling ADC as the platform for the coalition team that has come together from different parties to rescue Nigeria from mis-governance, recklessness and lack of accountability in governance.”
The former deputy governor said, “ADC is not just a party, it has become a platform for like-minded people that cut across different parties; people who are interested in rescuing Nigeria are coming together to say no to corruption, no to the greed that you can see pervading every sector of governance in Nigeria.
“Today, we say no to intimidation, we say no to a one-party system. That is why we are here today. You can see the enthusiasm written all over the faces of the people here today; you can see their desire to make a great move.”
The ADC state chairman, Ilesanmi Omolayo, flanked by the deputy chairman, Dare Adekolu, who presented membership cards to some of the new members, said that ADC’s goal was “to replace politics driven by corruption and deceit with transparency and accountability.”
Omolayo said, “As we gear up for the 2026 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State and the 2027 general election, we believe that through unity, dedication, discipline and dedication, we can deliver a government that truly serves the people, champions development and promotes good governance.”
ADC State Leader, David Adesua, likened the unveiling event to “singing a clear song to the hearing of Ekiti people; we have been in darkness for a long time, and now the hour has come to arise and shine, which is the logo of ADC.
“This is a movement of Ekiti indigenes, those who are not satisfied with bad governance, they come together through the platform and want to express themselves. People have embraced ADC, and they desire a genuine change, which the platform will bring.”
Adesua assured Ekiti people that the ADC, upon attaining the leadership of the state through the governorship election in 2026, would redress the hardship that the APC government had imposed on them at both the state and federal levels.
He said, “Our perspective in ADC is that the essence of being in government is to be able to serve the larger populace with the mindset of creating wealth, making people comfortable, doing things that make life worth living for the people.
“The people have come together now, saying let us have leaders with capacity, leaders that have empathy, leaders that are compassionate, leaders who are going to serve the people, not their pockets.”
Omole, speaking at the event, said like-minded people across the country were teaming up under the ADC platform “to find a real solution to the problem of this country.
“We are not listening to rhetoric again; we are talking about an actual solution to the problems of Nigeria.
“It is the masses that are our focus. If we have chosen to be part of politics, we should choose to be part of the one that will alleviate the suffering of the masses.
“Politics should not be for the elites alone; we are talking of politics that touches on the welfare of the common man on the street.”
Akinwumi said he left PDP, which he described as “an unwilling horse,” for the ADC, the coalition party, to rescue Nigerians from poverty, hunger, and the long-suffering of the people, which is becoming unbecoming. This is a collective rescue mission.”
The former commissioner, who said ADC would contest and win the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, said, “Tell anyone who cares to listen that no person in Ekiti State will do two terms at a go!
“Adeniyi Adebayo never did it, Ayodele Fayose could not do it; he was sent out, Chief Segun Oni was equally sent out, Dr Kayode Fayemi, with all his popularity then, could not get it, here we are now.
“What we have seen of Governor Biodun Oyebanji now shows he has not gotten anything right. We are going to Oke Ayoba, we are not joking about it.
“Someone (Oyebanji) who could not fix the roads, from Ado to Igede, Igede to Aramoko, Aramoko to Efon, someone who cannot fix Ado-Ijan-Iluomoba to Ikole to Ilasa, Omuo down to Abuja road, what is he doing?”
Also speaking, Bejide, who is also a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, assured the people that the ADC would bring positive changes to Ekiti people, politics and development of the state.
He said, “What you have just seen today is a gathering of people of like minds from all the major political parties to work together for the progress of this state, the coalition of members of different parties to move Ekiti forward.”
The representative of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the event, Prof Bayo Fakunle, said the party had differentiated itself from others with ideology.
He said, “Within two weeks of this coalition, other parties are jittery.
“ADC comprises a collection of people who are ready to change this country. Nigeria can never go with one party.”
PUNCH.
