Osun ADC holds congress, elects new executives amid tight security

The African Democratic Congress in Osun State on Saturday held a state congress during which a new set of state executives were elected.

The exercise, attended by delegates from the 30 local government areas in Osun, was held in Osogbo, the state capital, amid tight security.

Police and operatives of the Department of State Services were observed in good number at the venue of the exercise.

The congress was supervised by the chairman of the Osun ADC Congress Committee, Mudashiru Akinlabi.

At the event, a former Ilesa West Local Government chairman, Issa Adesiji, and Lani Baderinwa, who served as State Commissioner for Information during the second term of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, emerged chairman and secretary of the party respectively through a consensus arrangement.

Other elected state executives of the party include Adepeju Adigun, Treasurer; Funmilade Oyebode, Women Leader; Ademola Owoade, Youth Leader; and Oluwaseun Abosede, Publicity Secretary, among others.

In his acceptance speech, the new Osun ADC chairman, Adesiji, called on the executives of the party to prepare themselves for the task of participating in the August 15 governorship poll in the state.

Adesiji, who declared that ADC must win the governorship poll, appealed to the leaders and members of the party to support the executives and work hard for the victory of its candidate, Najeem Salaam.

“I quickly want to call on all members of this brand new Osun Exco to tighten up their belts for the big task ahead of us. As we all know, we are taking the party from almost a point of inertia, coupled with having a ‘must win’ governorship election in four months’ time, specifically on August 15, 2026.

“Thus, it is a yeoman’s task that we are taking responsibility for, and I am telling all Exco members to be ready to work in pursuit of our one-point agenda, which is to win the election handsomely.

“May I also seize this opportunity to appeal to our leaders and members generally to come to our support in this pursuit for the good of Osun and its people.

“I specially call on all people of good conscience to join me and my team in working to win the election, as teamwork makes success easier,” Adesiji said.

He extolled the leadership qualities of the party’s governorship candidate, saying he has the antecedent of being part of a government that stands out, having served as Speaker of the State Assembly for eight years during the tenure of former Governor Aregbesola.

In his remarks, Osun ADC governorship candidate, Salaam, who attended the event along with his running mate, Yemisi Agiri, assured the people that his administration would pursue real development across the state.

Salaam, who said his party chose a female running mate for strategic reasons, said if elected, an ADC administration would form a government of inclusion that would put the interests of various groups into consideration in decision-making.