Hon. Bolanle Aminat Sarumi (BASA) has stepped forward with clarity and confidence at a time many members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State were seeking reassurance. Amid widespread rumours of possible defections by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Sarumi made one thing unmistakably clear: ADC cannot be bought, bullied, or hijacked.
According to Sarumi, concerns reached her from across the state from ward leaders to party executives all asking the same question: what happens if powerful sitting governors enter the party? Her response was firm and reassuring. ADC in Oyo State, she explained, is built on structure, sacrifice, and grassroots commitment, not on external money or political intimidation.
She stressed that the party’s growth in Oyo has been deliberate and organic, driven by members who fund activities from their own pockets and invest time and energy in building the party local government by local government. That foundation, she said, cannot be overturned by sudden political interest or high-profile defections.
Sarumi used the moment to restate ADC’s guiding principle: openness without surrender. New members are welcome, she noted, but entry into the party does not confer ownership or control. Influence must be earned through loyalty, service, and respect for party processes.
On the sensitive issue of candidate imposition and vote manipulation, Sarumi spoke with unmistakable resolve. She emphasized that ADC primaries in Oyo State will be free, transparent, and competitive. Any attempt to buy votes, manipulate delegates, or compromise party officials will attract immediate sanctions. Party executives, she added, will be held to the same standard as aspirants.
She also addressed fears of internal betrayal during primaries, assuring members that safeguards have been put in place to prevent a repeat of past political disappointments seen elsewhere. The party leadership in Oyo, she maintained, is united and committed to protecting the integrity of the process.
Among ADC members in the state, Sarumi’s intervention restored calm and renewed confidence. Many described the defection rumours not as a threat, but as evidence that ADC has become a serious political force one attractive enough to draw attention from politicians seeking relevance.
As preparations for 2027 continue, Sarumi reiterated that ADC’s strength lies in discipline, preparation, and internal democracy. The party, she concluded, will grow but it will grow on its own terms.
ADC is not for sale. And in Oyo State, it will not be hijacked.
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