BY-ELECTIONS: ADC TESTS STRENGTH AS 17 PARTIES, 637 CANDIDATES FIGHT FOR 68 SEATS
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party recently adopted by the coalition of opposition leaders seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, has vowed to secure multiple seats in the by-elections taking place across the country today.
HOTJIST reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states.
Among the contests, two Senators will be elected to represent Edo Central and Anambra South.
Polls will also be held in five federal constituencies across Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, as well as nine state constituencies spread across Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
In addition, INEC is holding elections in the Enugu South I State Constituency of Enugu State and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State, following a court order for a re-run.
Most of the vacant seats arose from deaths, litigation losses, and resignations after the last general elections.
The Edo Central Senatorial seat became vacant after Senator Monday Okpebholo resigned to assume office as governor.
ADC tests Strength
This by-election is significant as it marks the first major test of strength for the ADC since it was adopted by the opposition coalition as its platform for the 2027 polls.
HOTJIST gathered that the Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark, alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex-governors Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi, have been actively campaigning for ADC candidates ahead of the polls.
Analysts believe the outcome will serve as an indicator of the ADC’s influence ahead of 2027.
Peter Obi’s controversial campaign in Anambra
Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), stirred controversy last week when he was spotted campaigning for the ADC’s candidate in the Onitsha North 1 House of Assembly by-election.
Although Obi has maintained that he remains committed to the LP, his decision to support an ADC candidate caused confusion in political circles.
Reacting, the LP Chairman in Anambra State, Hon. Emeh Ugochukwu Emmanuel, blamed INEC for Obi’s move.
According to him, “INEC deceived Peter Obi. INEC cunningly inserted our logo on ballot papers but refused to upload details of our candidates so Peter Obi saw that as something he could not condone and decided to campaign for the ADC.
“The ADC candidate in Onitsha is our candidate, she would have contested under the Labour Party but because of what INEC did, we decided that she should run using ADC.
“Now, the court has ordered the INEC to upload the details of our candidates, so right now, the Labour Party is contesting.
“Whether it has been uploaded or not, the court has given an order and the order must be obeyed.
“Labour Party is contesting in Anambra South Senatorial District but we don’t have a candidate in Onitsha North 1 because we wanted the woman to take over the seat of her husband who was murdered some time ago.
“It is a kind of compensation for the family. Although she is not in our party, she is still one of us.”
El-Rufai woos Kaduna voters for ADC
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, also joined the campaign train, storming Chikun Local Government to canvass support for ADC’s Alex Adamu, who is contesting the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat.
The move sparked criticism as El-Rufai, now a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was accused of neglecting SDP candidates in the state.
However, in a video shared on his social media page, El-Rufai appealed to “all our voters in Zaria and Sabingari LG to come out massively to vote for the candidate of SDP.”
Security concerns in Anambra, Kaduna, others
Security fears continue to overshadow the elections in states like Anambra and Kaduna, where violent gunmen and bandits have been active.
A security source told HOTJIST that voter turnout could be low in Anambra due to fear of attacks.
According to him, “people are likely not to turn up much for election due to stories of gunmen attacks.
“No matter the presence of police and army, the gunmen will still strike if they mean it. So many people may not participate in the election due to fear.
“That would pave the way for the ruling party to rig the election in their favour.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday ordered the deployment of senior officers to oversee security operations and ensure a smooth electoral process.
Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police have been dispatched to provide supervision, while tactical units such as the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, and Force Intelligence Department have also been deployed.
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