African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to empowering youth and women, pledging to allocate 50 per cent of elective and appointive positions to these demographics.

Aregbesola, a former Osun governor, stated this at the affirmation ceremony, where stakeholders from the PDP, Labour Party and others proclaimed their membership of ADC in Lagos State.

Delivering a speech entitled “When good people unite, Nigerians win”, Aregbesola described ADC as a party for the youth, adding that the party is out to rescue Nigeria.

Aregbesola stated that Nigeria’s future lies in empowering the youth, adding that the ADC’s constitution boldly affirms the role of youth and women in leadership.

According to him, the country is passing through a season of hardship and uncertainty under the current leadership, hence the need to rise above partisanship and chart a new course.

The immediate past Minister of the Interior said that the people are the centre of politics and governance, warning that any government that fails to make their welfare and well-being the basis would lose relevance.

He said: “ADC constitution boldly affirms the place of youth and women in leadership. Youth, this is your party.

“This is not tokenism, but a recognition that Nigeria’s future lies in giving voice, space, and power to those who have long been underrepresented.

“The ADC’s constitution allocates 35 per cent representation each for women and youth. Since these demographics overlap, their combined representation will be no less than 50 per cent.

“This structure makes the ADC unquestionably the party of the youth. We are equally committed to internal democracy, where every member’s voice matters and every vote counts.

“We are not a party owned or financed by one individual, but a collective of patriotic citizens coming together as equals to salvage a nation fast sliding into a precipice. The people are the centre of politics and the government.

“Any government, whether democratic, military, authoritarian, monarchical, or by whatever definition, that does not make its welfare and well-being the basis of governance, will soon lose relevance and die.

“There is a limit to which the people can be squeezed and pushed before something eventually gives.

“This is why our mission is urgent and our intervention has become absolutely necessary. We must act now to save the nation,” he said.

Aregbesola told the defectors that the task was to rescue the country and build a new Nigeria that the yet unborn would be proud to inherit.

“The task before us is clear: we must rescue this beautiful country from the path of destruction and build a new Nigeria—a nation our children will be proud to inherit.

“ADC’s intervention is an urgent and absolutely necessary mission to save the nation. The ADC’s strategy is to build from the ground up and avoid conflict,” he added.

Aregbesola advised party members to avoid “nonproductive engagement of debates and strife” with agents of “dying dinosaurs”.

“I appeal to us all to diligently face our task of building the party from the bottom up and sell our ideas to the people.

“We should avoid the distraction of nonproductive engagement of debates and strife with the agents of the dying dinosaurs”, he stated.

Expressing hope that Nigeria will survive, Aregbesola said that both the PDP and APC had lost their vision and dreams, and had been reduced to mere political parties.

“But we must note that it is not going to be business as usual. We must avoid the pitfalls of the APC and PDP and start on a new note.

“We are going to place the people at the centre and make our party largely representative of their distribution.”

Earlier, Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu, a PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member, who led other PDP stalwarts into ADC, said: “There is a massive shift and movement of PDP members into ADC, and some Labour Party members and other like minds are moving with us.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building a Nigeria that works for all.

“Our gathering here is not merely a meeting of political leaders, stakeholders and supporters; it is a convergence of shared values, progressive ideas and a renewed determination to reshape the future of our nation.

“We are particularly delighted to have among us leaders of great reputes, whose presence affirms the importance of this moment.

“The convergence of coalitions under the banner of ADC represents not just a political alignment, but a true coming together of visionaries and patriots committed to advancing democracy, inclusiveness, and good governance in our dear country.

“The event is also a reaffirmation of a solemn declaration that together, united in purpose and conviction, we will build stronger political structures, galvanise grassroots participation, and provide credible leadership alternatives that Nigerians can trust.”

Also, leading some Labour Party members into ADC, Dr Segun Osho, the Chairman of Local Government Areas LP Chairmen in Lagos State, said the movement became important to rescue Nigeria.

“We pledge our loyalty to ADC, and we are getting on board to rescue Lagos State and Nigeria,” Osho said.

Also speaking, Sen. Kolawole Ogunwale, an ADC Chieftain, who urged members to work assiduously to secure victory for the party, said, “We must not stand with ADC with just mere mouth, let us be united in purpose and goal.”

The decampees included former Chairmen of the Lagos PDP, Chief Muritala Ashorobi and Captain Tunji Shelle; PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Tai Benedict; Chief Niyi Adams, former Lagos PDP Youth Leader; and other stalwarts in the state.

Admitting the decampees after open affirmation to join ADC, Mr George Ashiru, the Lagos State ADC Chairman, symbolically presented the party’s logo, flag and statement of purpose to Ogunkelu.

Ashiru, who described ADC as a credible alternative, urged the party members to think like a military force going to war in unity.

The event was attended by some ADC national leaders, including chairmen from South-West States.

Also speaking, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ally, Mr Dimeji Fabiyi, called on the ADC leadership to ensure proper integration of all decampees, while also ensuring the youth lead and drive the party.

Fabiyi, the Deputy Director of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, said that ADC remained a party for people with a passion for a better Nigeria.