A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Solomon Dalung, has accused the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, of unilaterally appointing caretaker committees across the states, warning that the move could undermine its pending case before the Supreme Court and threaten its participation in the 2027 general elections.
Dalung, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, made the allegation in a video shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He claimed that appointment letters, reportedly signed by Aregbesola, had been circulated to members selected to manage the party’s affairs across the 36 states.
The former minister expressed concern that the appointments were being made while the party’s appeal against a Court of Appeal decision remained pending before the Supreme Court.
According to him, some of the individuals appointed to the caretaker committees were among those previously removed from office following the court’s decision.
Dalung described the development as a disregard for due process, alleging that the party leadership was taking steps capable of pre-empting the Supreme Court’s determination of the dispute.
He urged the ADC leadership to suspend the planned inauguration of the caretaker committees, scheduled for Wednesday, until the apex court delivers its judgment.
Dalung warned that proceeding with the inauguration could weaken the party’s legal position and jeopardise its chances of participating in the 2027 elections.
He argued that the party could not challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision before the Supreme Court while simultaneously taking administrative steps that appeared to contradict the position it was defending in court.
Questions Aregbesola’s authority
The ADC chieftain also questioned the authority of Aregbesola to sign the appointment letters without the National Chairman’s endorsement.
He argued that appointments of such significance should follow the party’s administrative procedures, which, according to him, required the signatures of both the National Chairman and National Secretary.
Dalung further disclosed that he had repeatedly advised against the appointments, distancing himself from the decision.
He warned that should the Supreme Court eventually rule against the party, the resulting consequences would be self-inflicted rather than the actions of external forces.
The former minister called on the party leadership to withdraw the appointment letters and await the Supreme Court’s decision, cautioning that failure to do so could have serious implications for the ADC’s political future and its participation in the 2027 general elections.