The African Democratic Congress has faulted the by-elections conducted on Saturday, August 16, across 13 states and 16 constituencies, describing them as marred by intimidation and corruption.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stressed that the outcome of the by-elections does not reflect the true strength of the party as the coalition platform for opposition leaders.
He further argued that the exercise once again highlighted the alleged decline of Nigeria’s electoral process under President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The ADC, which was officially adopted on July 1 as the coalition party of key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was expected to use the bye-elections as a test of its strength ahead of 2027.
While the APC won most of the seats, the Peoples Democratic Party secured victories in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Adamawa State; the New Nigeria Peoples Party triumphed in Kano; and the All Progressives Grand Alliance clinched Anambra State. However, the ADC failed to win any constituency.
Reacting to the outcome, the ADC alleged that the polls were tainted by violence, vote-buying, manipulation, and administrative irregularities.
It stated, “The ADC noted that the party did not field candidates for most of the positions contested in the by-election.
“Therefore, with all its flaws and irregularities, this election should not be seen as a measure of the strength or capacity of the Opposition Coalition, but rather as a sad reflection of how far the system has been corrupted against the will of the people.
“What Nigerians witnessed in yesterday’s by-elections is yet another reminder that under the current administration, democracy itself, just like the economy and our national security, continues to decline under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.
“When elections are marred by widespread violence, when ballots are openly and brazenly exchanged for money, when opposition candidates are excluded without explanation, and when the very institutions entrusted to safeguard democracy become complicit, then the vote of the ordinary Nigerian ceases to have meaning.”
