ADC pledges rebuilding, dismisses by-election performance

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians not to assess its strength by its inability to win any seat in the August 16 by-elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the polls came too soon after the party’s leadership transition and should not be regarded as a measure of its potential.

The by-elections were conducted to fill vacant seats following deaths or resignations after the 2023 general elections. The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 12 of the 16 contested seats, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two in Anambra, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won one in Oyo, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took one in Kano.

Abdullahi explained that the ADC was not electorally prepared at the time, noting that many of the candidates were not even known to the new leadership.

“For us, the election happened less than a month after we came into the party. Most of the candidates, we didn’t even know them. That’s why we said we cannot judge the ADC by that,” he said.

According to him, the by-elections occurred during a delicate transition phase, and the party’s focus now is on building structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since recognised the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC. Alongside Mark, INEC also confirmed Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Mani as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

Abdullahi disclosed that the new leadership would embark on a nationwide reconciliation and mobilisation drive to strengthen the party’s presence across the country.

He stressed that the ADC’s long-term goal is to build a mass movement capable of offering Nigerians a credible alternative.

“We want Nigerians to get to 2027 and ask themselves: has this ruling party improved our lives or made our lives worse? When they want change, we want them to see our party as a viable option,” he said.

The party had earlier attributed its poor performance in the August polls to violence, vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot snatching, and alleged malfunctions of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) – claims the APC denied.