BY-ELELCTION: APC SWEEPS 12 SEATS, ADC NONE
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the majority of seats in the by-elections held across 16 constituencies in 13 states on Saturday, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) failed to secure any seat.
Findings revealed that at press time, the APC won 12 seats, with APGA two seats, while the NNPP and PDP took one seat each, as the ADC failed to claim any seat in the just-concluded elections.
The vacant seats in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Onitsha North 1, Anambra South Senatorial District, and Bagwai Shanono Constituency were claimed by PDP, APGA, and NNPP, respectively.
The ADC was adopted by members of opposition parties vowing to unseat the APC in the 2027 elections. The party tested its popularity in the by-elections, which were keenly contested by 637 candidates from 17 parties jostling for 68 seats.
The by-election marked the first election the party contested in since the coalition of opposition leaders adopted the ADC as a platform to contest the 2027 polls.
Prior to the elections, the interim National Chairman of the party, David Mark, had appealed to Nigerians to support the party’s candidates and give them the chance to prove themselves in the by-elections.
While speaking at an event for ADC candidates in Abuja, Mark described the party as a child of necessity.
“The ADC is a child of necessity. It was born out of the genuine desire to offer Nigerians an alternative and better governance. Give the party an opportunity to prove its worth,” said Mark.
Like the former senator, the former governor of Kaduna State and former APC member, Nasir El-Rufai, appealed for support for the ADC candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat, Alex Adamu.
The former ADC national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, had alleged that the APC was desperate to capture the 16 by-elections, adding that it was part of the party’s 2027 national takeover strategy.
ADC Ogun Chairman, Femi Soluade, had also accused the Ogun State Government of deploying security agencies to frustrate its campaign activities ahead of the elections. According to him, police operatives were being used to harass ADC members.
Following the outcome of the by-elections and the APC’s success, Nigerians are already asking what 2027 would bring. Will the ruling party retain its winning streak, or will the ADC unseat the party as it has vowed?
SOURCE: GUARDIAN
