- Rauf Aregbesola admitted that internal challenges weakened the African Democratic Congress in recent elections
- He cited poor funding, weak structure, incumbency advantage and monetisation as key reasons for the party’s defeat
- The party said it had begun restructuring efforts to improve performance in future elections, including in Ekiti and Osun states
The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has outlined the reasons behind the party’s defeat in the 2025 Anambra State governorship election and the 26 February Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls.
Speaking at the party’s ongoing national convention on Tuesday, Aregbesola acknowledged that internal challenges significantly undermined the ADC’s performance in both elections. He cited poor funding and an underdeveloped party structure as key factors that weakened its chances at the polls.
“Our party participated in the 2025 Anambra State election and the February 26 FCT local government election,” he said. “We were not victorious for various reasons, including the fact that our opponents employed the power of incumbency, monetisation of the electoral process and misuse of state power.”
Aregbesola further admitted that the ADC’s internal shortcomings compounded these external pressures. “On our side, we suffered from poor funding and the general non-readiness of our structure,” he stated, noting that the party was not adequately prepared to compete effectively.
The former governor emphasised that the experience has provided valuable lessons for the party, adding that efforts are already underway to reposition the ADC ahead of future contests. He expressed confidence that the party would perform better in upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
The elections referenced by Aregbesola were keenly contested, with dominant parties leveraging established political machinery. In the FCT Area Council elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured five out of the six available seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed the remaining position.
Political analysts have often pointed to funding constraints and grassroots structure as critical determinants of electoral success in Nigeria, particularly for smaller parties such as the ADC. Aregbesola’s remarks underscore the challenges faced by opposition parties seeking to compete against well-established rivals with greater access to resources and incumbency advantages.
Despite the setbacks, the ADC leadership maintains that it is recalibrating its strategy, with a focus on strengthening internal organisation, mobilising resources and building wider grassroots support ahead of the next electoral cycle.
ADC insists convention will hold despite venue dispute
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention planning committee, Dino Melaye, has declared that no force can prevent the party from proceeding with its scheduled convention, despite reported attempts to deny access to the venue.
The convention, slated for Tuesday, had faced uncertainty amid claims that organisers were being blocked from using the agreed facility. Concerns emerged after reports suggested that the party was at risk of losing the venue at the last minute.