ADC Vows 50% Slots for Youth and Women, Welcomes Defectors from PDP and Labour Party
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has pledged to make youth and women the cornerstone of its governance agenda by allocating no less than 50 per cent of both elective and appointive positions to them, PulseNets learnt.
The party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, gave this assurance in Lagos on Saturday during a colourful ceremony to welcome high-profile defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other political platforms into the ADC.
Speaking under the theme, “When Good People Unite, Nigerians Win,” Aregbesola — a former Osun State governor and immediate past Minister of Interior — described the ADC as a youth-driven political movement determined to offer Nigerians a credible and people-oriented alternative.
According to him, the party’s constitution explicitly provides 35 per cent representation for women and another 35 per cent for youths, ensuring that their combined stake in leadership will never drop below the promised 50 per cent threshold.
“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,” Aregbesola told PulseNets.
He further stressed that ADC is not a one-man structure but a collective platform run by patriotic Nigerians committed to rebuilding the nation. Aregbesola condemned the hardship and uncertainty facing citizens, warning that any government that neglects the people’s welfare would ultimately lose legitimacy.
“Our mission is to build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit. Leadership must meet the basic needs of the people or it will collapse with time,” he said.
ADC Targets Grassroots, Dismisses APC and PDP
The ADC National Secretary also charged members to strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation rather than waste energy attacking political opponents. He argued that both the APC and the PDP had lost focus, reducing themselves to mere power-seeking platforms.
“We must not repeat the mistakes of APC and PDP. Let us build a people-oriented party from scratch,” Aregbesola declared.
Defectors Declare New Era of Progressive Politics
PulseNets reported that Abimbola Ogunkelu, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees who led a delegation of defectors, described their move to ADC as the dawn of a new political era. He said the coalition was determined to mobilise grassroots participation and provide Nigerians with trustworthy and accountable leadership.
On his part, Segun Osho, who led Labour Party defectors, explained that their switch was informed by the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from its current socio-economic crisis.
ADC chieftain Kolawole Ogunwale urged members to back their words with action, emphasising that rhetoric alone would not guarantee the party’s success.
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Among the notable defectors were former Lagos PDP chairmen Muritala Ashorobi and Tunji Shelle; PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Tai Benedict; Niyi Adams; and a former PDP youth leader.
To formalise their entry, Lagos ADC chairman George Ashiru presented the party’s flag, logo, and statement of purpose to Ogunkelu and other defectors, symbolising their full integration into the ADC family.
