Lagos APC Mocks Aregbesola Over 2027 Takeover Claim

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fired back at former governor and ex-minister of the interior, Rauf Aregbesola, after he declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would take control of Aso Rock and Lagos State in the 2027 general elections. Aregbesola, who recently aligned himself with the ADC after a long political career in the APC, boasted over the weekend that his new party was positioning itself as a formidable opposition force capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu and his allies.

Speaking on Saturday while unveiling a grassroots mobilization strategy, Aregbesola told party members and supporters that the ADC was ready to challenge the ruling APC both at the federal level and in Lagos, the political stronghold of Tinubu. His remarks have since stirred heated reactions, particularly from his former party in Lagos State.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by APC’s Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the ruling party dismissed Aregbesola’s remarks as nothing more than the desperate outbursts of a politician seeking relevance after losing grip on the political structures that once sustained him.

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APC Slams Aregbesola as a “Wandering Tenant”

Oladejo likened Aregbesola’s current political trajectory to that of a “wandering tenant” in what he described as a “mushroom opposition party.” He stressed that the former Osun governor, who rose to prominence under the APC umbrella, has now chosen a path of self-destruction by turning against the political family that nurtured his career.

“Here is a man who was once a proud landlord in the progressive family, now reduced to a wandering tenant in a mushroom opposition party,” Oladejo stated.

He went further to remind Nigerians of Aregbesola’s long-standing political journey within the APC, which saw him serve as Commissioner in Lagos, two-term Governor of Osun, and later Minister of the Interior under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, Aregbesola enjoyed every opportunity and privilege offered by the APC but has now chosen to “set fire to the same house that made him.”

Oladejo argued that the ADC’s decision to present Aregbesola as a front-runner in its political strategy was nothing short of a “recipe for failure.” He suggested that betting the party’s future on someone who is actively dismantling his own political legacy was a grave miscalculation.

Political Suicide or Political Rebirth?

The APC spokesperson described Aregbesola’s current posture as “political suicide of the highest order.” He insisted that the former governor’s open antagonism towards his erstwhile political family would do more harm to his reputation than to the ruling party.

“Ogbeni Aregbesola’s rant is less a threat to APC and more a public obituary of his own political relevance,” Oladejo asserted. “By turning his back on the progressive family that made him, he has written himself out of history and into the footnotes of infamy.”

The statement further ridiculed the ADC’s hopes of leveraging Aregbesola’s influence to mount a credible challenge in 2027, warning that such an approach would lead not to electoral victory but to political ridicule. “If the opposition ADC thinks the former governor is the one to lead them to electoral glory, then they are preparing for a funeral, not a victory,” he added.

A Brewing Battle Ahead of 2027

Aregbesola’s defection from the APC and his alignment with the ADC underscore the growing tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the ruling party continues to consolidate its hold on power, opposition groups are scrambling to forge alliances that could unseat Tinubu at the federal level and break the APC’s dominance in Lagos State.

For many political observers, Aregbesola’s defiance signals a personal vendetta as much as a political strategy. His strained relationship with Tinubu, once his political mentor, has been an open secret in Nigeria’s political circles. Critics argue that his recent statements are motivated more by bitterness than by genuine political calculation.

On the other hand, supporters of the ADC believe that Aregbesola’s experience and grassroots influence, particularly in Osun and parts of Lagos, could give the party a much-needed boost. They contend that dismissing him outright could be premature, considering the fluid nature of Nigerian politics.

The exchange between Aregbesola and the Lagos APC has opened another chapter in Nigeria’s turbulent political landscape. While the former governor paints a picture of a rising opposition movement ready to dislodge the APC in 2027, the ruling party insists his political career is on its last breath.

As the countdown to the next general elections begins, the real test will be whether Aregbesola can translate his defiance into a coherent movement capable of challenging APC’s deep-rooted dominance. Until then, the fiery war of words serves as a reminder that Nigeria’s political arena is one where yesterday’s allies can quickly become tomorrow’s fiercest rivals.