Behind The Scene As Aregbesola Returns To National Politics

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State and immediate past Minister of Interior, has staged a high-profile political comeback with his appointment as the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The announcement, warmly received by his supporters and the Omoluabi Progressives group in Osun, signals a bold new chapter for the long-time political tactician once seen as a key architect within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The congratulatory statement issued by the Chairman of Omoluabi Progressives, Alhaji Isaa Adesiji Azeez, described Aregbesola’s emergence as a turning point for the ADC and a sign of an approaching political shift.

“This significant development marks a new chapter in the journey toward a more people-centered, accountable, and visionary political leadership in Nigeria,” he said, calling on citizens to prepare for a new era of governance.

Aregbesola’s new role is not only a personal political revival but also a major boost to the ADC, a party seeking to reposition itself as a viable third force in Nigeria’s crowded political space.

His decision to pitch tent with the ADC comes two years after a well-documented fallout with key APC leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his former political mentor.

The cracks in the relationship became public during the 2022 Osun governorship primaries, where Aregbesola openly opposed the re-election of then-Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Tinubu’s cousin, supporting a rival faction under the banner of “The Osun Progressives” (TOP).

Despite his efforts, the APC suffered defeat in Osun to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leading to intensified infighting and his eventual political isolation within the ruling party.

Though he maintained a low profile after the 2023 general elections and completed his ministerial term, Aregbesola continued to court support among progressive-minded youths and professionals in the South-West under the Omoluabi ideological framework.

His move to the ADC is widely interpreted as a strategic attempt to rebuild a political base outside the Tinubu-controlled APC machinery.

The timing of this appointment is critical. With President Tinubu expected to seek re-election in 2027 and the APC working vigorously to reclaim Osun in the 2026 governorship election, Aregbesola’s new position places him at the heart of emerging political realignments.

Analysts believe he could play a kingmaker role—or more—depending on how far the ADC expands under his leadership.

Alhaji Azeez’s call for Osun voters to register ahead of the 2026 elections further fuels speculation that the Omoluabi Progressives may be planning a full political campaign—possibly with Aregbesola or his loyalists fielding candidates under the ADC.

“The vision,” he said, “is to usher in a new leadership—one that will uplift Osun State, improve security, banish hunger, and give our state a more dignified facelift.”

Aregbesola’s reemergence is likely to complicate the political terrain in Osun, already a battleground between the PDP-led government of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the APC, which is desperate to reclaim lost ground. With the ADC gaining a figure of national relevance, the race for 2026 in Osun may no longer remain a two-horse affair.