Let’s Build Membership Register of Integrity, Aregbesola Charges ADC
The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged members of the party not to be carried away by the illusion of size and inflated numbers but to build the party’s membership register on integrity.
Aregbesola made the remarks on Thursday during the ADC membership revalidation, mobilisation and registration flag-off held at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja.
Drawing inferences from past political experiences, Aregbesola warned the party against the temptation to overbloat its register, insisting that such practices only weaken party structures.
According to him, “We must resist—with every fibre of our conviction—the temptation to bloat our figures with imaginary people. At the end of such exercise, all we will have is a token register propped up by a weak structure—impressive on paper, powerless in practice.
“A party of ghosts cannot win elections. A party of ghosts cannot govern. A party of ghosts cannot hold its leaders to account. And a party of ghosts will inevitably be haunted by its own dishonesty.”
Instead, the former Minister of Interior prescribed what he described as a credible, verifiable and disciplined membership system, stressing that every name on the party’s register must belong to a real, documented and accountable individual.
He said the integrity of the party’s membership register must be treated as a sacred responsibility by leaders at all levels, from the national leadership to ward officers.
“The integrity of our register is the integrity of our party. If we cannot be honest about who we are, we have no moral authority to demand honesty from those who govern,” he said.
Aregbesola further emphasised the need for “conscious membership,” noting that the party does not need passive names in a database but active and informed members who understand the ADC’s manifesto and are committed to its ideals.
He explained that conscious members must regularly attend ward meetings, pay dues willingly, uphold party discipline and actively promote the party’s vision within their communities.
The ADC National Secretary also reiterated the party’s ambition to redefine democratic practice in Nigeria, stressing that internal transparency, consultation and adherence to the party constitution must guide all operations.
He maintained that the party must first demonstrate the ability to govern itself effectively before seeking to govern the country.
“If we cannot govern our own party with integrity, what right do we have to ask Nigerians to trust us with their government?” he queried.
Aregbesola also warned against what he described as the “island mentality,” where individuals elevate personal ambition above institutional processes, saying no individual is bigger than the party.
On the way forward, he called for the establishment of a credible and incorruptible registration system, training of ward officers, stronger accountability mechanisms and sustained political education for members.
He added that building a lasting political institution requires funding, discipline and sacrifice, urging party leaders to commit resources toward strengthening the party’s internal systems.
Reaffirming the party’s long-term vision, Aregbesola said the ADC is not building for the next election cycle alone but for future generations.
“We are not building a party for the next election. We are building a party for the next generation. And that building must be constructed on a foundation of truth,” he said.
He urged members to begin the process with sincerity and commitment, stressing that a party built on conviction rather than convenience would stand the test of time.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
