Time Has Come To Swing Into Action – Aregbesola Galvanises ADC Ahead Of Osun Guber, Unveils Strategy

Rauf Aregbesola, former Interior Minister and two-term governor of Osun State, on Sunday rallied members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a meeting in Ilesa, Osun, urging them to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the November 2026 governorship election.

Now one of the national leaders of the ADC, Aregbesola addressed members of the Omoluabi Progressives — a political movement he founded after falling out with the All Progressives Congress (APC) — calling on them to take advantage of the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise set to begin on August 18.

“The time has come to swing into action,” the National Secretary of the ADC declared while addressing stakeholders from all local government areas of the state.

“The forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration exercise, scheduled to commence on August 18, is crucial to the task ahead,” Aregbesola noted, urging “everyone to actively participate, mobilise, and galvanise” the people — especially young people of voting age who have benefited from their various programmes in Osun, as well as those left behind by successive governments — to register and be ready to vote.

The meeting comes at a crucial time for the ADC, which Aregbesola joined after an intense face-off with his successor as governor, Gboyega Oyetola, forced him out of the APC.

The crippling political feud cost Oyetola a second term in office with the loss of the 2022 governorship contest to Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — with Aregbesola backing another candidate.

With his movement now officially aligned with the ADC, Aregbesola is positioning the party as a serious contender to retake Osun from the PDP.

His vigorous push in Osun also signals a larger political ambition — analysts see the 2026 governorship election as a test of Aregbesola’s true relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A strong showing, or a possible ADC victory in Osun, could reposition Aregbesola as a significant political force nationally, especially as Nigeria heads into what is expected to be a wide-open presidential race in 2027.

Insiders suggest that winning Osun would be a major bargaining chip.

Addressing the crowd, Aregbesola also called for a more disciplined political culture within the party, warning against personal attacks and urging members to focus on policy-based conversations that resonate with the people.

“Rather than resort to name-calling or personal attacks, we must focus on policy- and issue-based debates that enrich political discourse and set the tone for our mission to return Osun to true progressive leadership,” he charged.

The former minister praised local leaders for their commitment, loyalty, and personal contributions — both financial and material — to the party’s activities, saying their effort is vital in reclaiming the state and building a “people-friendly government.”

“We are convinced and reassured of the support of our people to take us to the desired zenith. Nigeria must work in our lifetime,” he declared.

With months to go before the 2026 governorship poll, Aregbesola is stepping up his visibility and consolidating his hold on the ADC in Osun, where he remains an influential figure.

“But his next political chapter may largely depend on whether he can deliver the state to a party still considered minor in national politics — or muster a show that would threaten the existing order,” insiders say.