ADC Urges Nigerians Not to Judge Party by By-Election Defeat

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians not to assess the party’s strength solely on the basis of its performance in the August 16 by-elections. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi explained that the elections came too soon after a leadership transition, leaving the party ill-prepared.

The by-elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill 16 vacant seats following deaths or resignations after the 2023 general elections, produced no wins for the ADC. The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 12 seats, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won two seats in Anambra. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked up one seat in Oyo, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) secured another in Kano.

Abdullahi insisted that the outcome should not be seen as a reflection of ADC’s future prospects. “The election happened less than a month after we came into the party. Most of the candidates, we didn’t even know them,” he said, stressing that the contests came at a period when the party was still establishing its leadership structure.

ADC New Leadership and Future Plans

INEC has since formally recognised David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC, alongside other principal officers including Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Mani as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Professor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

With this official recognition, the ADC leadership is expected to embark on a nationwide reconciliation and mobilisation drive aimed at consolidating the party’s presence across Nigeria. Abdullahi emphasised that the new leadership is more focused on long-term growth than short-term electoral gains.

“Our goal is to build a mass party that Nigerians can trust. By 2027, we want citizens to look at their lives under the current ruling party and, if dissatisfied, find in the ADC a credible alternative,” he said.

Election Concerns and Party’s Stance

The ADC had previously attributed its poor outing to alleged irregularities during the polls, accusing the APC of engaging in violence, vote-buying, ballot-box snatching, voter intimidation, and exploiting failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The APC, however, denied the allegations.

Despite these setbacks, Abdullahi maintained that the party would not be discouraged by its inability to secure a seat. Instead, he described the outcome as a learning process for a party undergoing transition. He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the ADC’s preparation for future contests, particularly the 2027 general elections, would be robust and strategic.