African Democratic Congress, (ADC) has unfolded its plan to exit both the All Progress Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the corridors of power in all the states in the Southwest region.

The process will start with Osun and Ekiti states governorship elections in 2026.

The party made this known at the inauguration of its Zonal leadership for the southwest in Ibadan at the weekend.

Its newly elected Chairman, Rahman Owokoniran decried the prevailing hunger in the Country which he attributed to the ineptitude of the leadership of both the APC and PDP at the state and national levels.

He described the ADC as the best alternative for both parties in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Owokoniran also alleged that market women and traders across parts of the region are being coerced into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria through intimidation and economic pressure.

He claimed that traders were being compelled to register with the ruling party under duress, with threats of market raids, arbitrary closure of shops and disruption of commercial activities if they failed to comply.

The chairman said, “Market women and men are reportedly being pressured to register with the ruling party under duress, including threats of raiding their markets and locking their shops indiscriminately, thereby preventing them from selling their goods and earning a living.”

He further alleged that the distribution of palliatives had become a political tool used to control the poor and working class, rather than a genuine intervention to cushion economic hardship.

“Such practices were designed to manipulate loyalty and suppress dissent among vulnerable populations.”

Owokoniran argued that these actions undermine democratic values, weaken public trust in government institutions and reduce politics to survival-based loyalty, rather than informed choice and participation.

“The political manipulation of hunger and hardship to influence loyalty distorts democracy and erodes human dignity. The ADC would resist such tendencies through issue-based mobilisation and grassroots engagement.”

While acknowledging the South-West as a region endowed with talent, resilience and innovation, the ADC leader lamented that rising inflation, unemployment, food shortages and insecurity had continued to erode living standards and deepen poverty across the zone.

“As a party, we must respond not with anger but with strategic planning in the interest of the people. Leadership must be about service, accountability and empowerment,” Owokoniran stated.

He pledged that under his leadership, the ADC would focus on strengthening its structures in the South-West, deepening grassroots participation and presenting a people-centred vision of governance capable of addressing the region’s socioeconomic challenges.

Also speaking, the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Bamidele Ajadi, urged party members to prioritise internal party building over the rush to present candidates for elective positions.

He stressed that only a strong and united party could produce formidable candidates capable of winning elections.

“We must build the party first before talking about candidates. A strong party structure is what produces strong and credible candidates,” Ajadi said.

Earlier, the state Chairman of the party, Yinka Olona, described the inauguration as a crucial step in repositioning the ADC in the South-West, urging members to remain committed to the party’s ideals and work collectively to expand its influence across the region.

The Inauguration also featured the formal unveiling of other zonal and national officers of the party, including the Assistant National Secretary and South-West Zonal Secretary, Bashir Lawal; Deputy National Woman Leader, Yemisi Afolabi; Ex-officio member, Olabode Ayorinde; Deputy National Financial Secretary, Rotimi Taylor; Deputy National Coordinator (Diaspora), Daniel Akene; South-West Zonal Woman Leader, Sidikat Ojo; Assistant National Youth Leader, Oluwaseyi Akinde; Director of Communications, Babatunde Oke; and Assistant National Organising Secretary, Sakiru Adekoya. (Sunday Tribune)

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