Osogbo, Nigeria – 13 July 2025
Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was greeted by enthusiastic crowds in Ijesaland on Saturday, as he returned home following a series of political engagements aimed at bolstering opposition forces ahead of the 2027 Nigerian elections.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Aregbesola expressed his profound appreciation to supporters, loyalists, and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who turned out in significant numbers despite his delayed arrival. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our supporters, loyalists, and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ijesaland who came out in large numbers to welcome us back home today, Saturday, July 12, 2025 – despite our delayed arrival. Your support and warm reception mean the world to us,” he wrote.
The reception, which took place at the popular Ere ja roundabout in Ilesa – Aregbesola’s birthplace – underscored the politician’s enduring popularity in the region. Footage from the event showed throngs of ADC members and well-wishers chanting and waving party flags, highlighting a show of solidarity that Aregbesola said “strengthens our resolve to keep working towards the realisation of a PEOPLE-FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT.”
Aregbesola, 68, has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics for decades. Born in Ilesa on 25 May 1957, he studied Mechanical Engineering at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, before embarking on a career marked by activism and public service. He served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State under then-Governor Bola Tinubu from 1999 to 2007, overseeing major infrastructural developments. In 2010, after a protracted legal battle, he became Governor of Osun State on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (which later merged into the All Progressives Congress, or APC), serving two terms until 2018. His administration prioritised youth empowerment, education, and poverty alleviation through programmes like the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES) and the Osun Elementary School Feeding Programme (O-MEALS). From 2019 to 2023, he held the position of Minister of the Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari.
His recent defection from the APC to the ADC in 2025 has positioned him as a key player in efforts to unify opposition parties against the ruling APC. Appointed as the interim National Secretary of the ADC on 1 July, Aregbesola has been vocal about the need for a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027. In his acceptance speech, he emphasised the importance of principled politics, drawing parallels with South Africa’s African National Congress and calling for parties to prioritise the people’s interests over personal ambition.
The homecoming follows a mobilisation tour in the South West region, which began with a visit to Ondo State on 10 July, where Aregbesola met with opposition leaders and grassroots mobilisers. He described the ADC as a platform for “people-friendly government and people-friendly politics,” urging unity to address Nigeria’s challenges, including food inflation, economic hardship, and rising poverty. Upon arriving in Lagos on 4 July, he similarly thanked supporters and reiterated the party’s focus on factual debates rather than personal attacks.
However, Aregbesola’s moves have drawn criticism from pro-Tinubu groups. The Yari Renaissance Movement for Tinubu 2027 dismissed his coalition ambitions as “moribund at birth,” mocking his strategies as unrealistic. Another group accused him of leading efforts to dislodge Tinubu, labelling it a “fantasy.” Despite this, Aregbesola remains undeterred, warning that Nigeria is “teetering on the edge” and calling on undecided stakeholders to join the ADC.
