The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has pledged to prioritise youth and women by reserving at least 50 per cent of elective and appointive positions for them
National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola made the announcement in Lagos on Saturday during an event to welcome defectors from the PDP, Labour Party, and other parties into the ADC.
Delivering a speech titled When Good People Unite, Nigerians Win, the former Osun State governor and ex-Minister of Interior described ADC as a people-driven platform dedicated to rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges.
“ADC’s constitution boldly affirms the place of youth and women in leadership. This is not tokenism but recognition that Nigeria’s future lies in giving voice, space, and power to those long underrepresented,” Aregbesola said.
He explained that the party’s constitution guarantees 35 per cent representation each for women and youth, ensuring their combined share will never fall below 50 per cent. “This structure makes ADC unquestionably the party of the youth,” he added.
Aregbesola stressed that the ADC is run by patriotic citizens rather than controlled by any single individual. He warned that governments which fail to prioritise citizens’ welfare eventually lose legitimacy and collapse.
“The hardship and uncertainty Nigerians face require urgent intervention. Leadership must meet the basic needs of the people,” he said.
Calling on members to build a truly people-oriented party, Aregbesola urged them to expand ADC’s grassroots base and ignore “the distractions of dying political structures.” He criticised both the APC and PDP for losing vision and reducing politics to mere power struggles.
“We must not repeat the mistakes of APC and PDP. Let us build a party from scratch that Nigerians can trust,” he said.
Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, a PDP Board of Trustees member who led the defectors, described the move as the beginning of a new era of progressive politics. He said the coalition would mobilise grassroots participation and provide credible leadership.
Segun Osho, who brought in members from the Labour Party, said their defection was necessary to help rescue Nigeria. ADC chieftain Kolawole Ogunwale also called for total commitment to the party’s success, warning against mere lip service.
Prominent defectors included former Lagos PDP chairmen Muritala Ashorobi and Tunji Shelle; PDP Lagos Central vice chairman Tai Benedict; Niyi Adams; and other key party stalwarts.
ADC Lagos chairman George Ashiru presented the party’s flag, logo, and statement of purpose to Ogunkelu as a symbol of their new political home.
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Na lie o. They want to lure Nigerians again