ADC vows to end APC rule in Kwara

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The African Democratic Congress has declared that it was poised to end the All Progressives Congress’ eight-year administration in Kwara State in the 2027 general elections.

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The party insisted that it had become the preferred alternative for residents dissatisfied with the state’s current political direction.

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The declaration came on Wednesday as party supporters, members and loyalists converged in Ilorin, the state capital, for a 13-kilometre road walk, which the party described as a demonstration of its growing popularity ahead of the next election cycle.

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Addressing journalists after the rally, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the enthusiasm displayed by participants reflected the desire of Kwarans for a new political direction, arguing that the state had yet to realise the aspirations that inspired the 2019 ‘Otoge’ political movement.

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He said, “There was a reason for Otoge in 2019. It was like an exodus; a departure from Egypt, where people had grown tired of the government at the time. We left Egypt, which was the PDP, eight years ago, but we have now realised that we are yet to arrive at the promised land.

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“If, after leaving Egypt eight years ago, we are still wandering in the wilderness, should we return to Egypt? Certainly not. We must continue the journey until we reach the promised land. The PDP was Egypt, the APC represents the wilderness, and the ADC is the promised land.”

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Abdullahi said the party was convinced that the widespread dissatisfaction with both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party would translate into electoral victory in 2027.

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He stated, “We are confident that we will win both at the national and state levels because the ADC is the only party with a clear vision of what it wants to do for Nigerians.

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“The APC continues to market the Renewed Hope Agenda, but to many Nigerians it has remained a slogan without meaningful impact. As for the PDP, it is no longer the formidable opposition it once was. The only credible alternative before Nigerians today is the African Democratic Congress.”

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The former Minister of Sports said the party remained open to receiving politicians from other parties but ruled out compromising its principles to accommodate new entrants.

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He added, “They have not approached us yet, but if they do, they will be welcomed into our fold; not the other way round.

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“If they recognise that we stand for higher ideals and decide to identify with us, they will be accepted. However, they must be prepared to play by our rules. We will not play by theirs because Nigerians have already seen the kind of politics they represent.

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“They represent the politics of yesterday which has been rejected, while we represent a new political culture founded on principle, accountability and service. Politics is about numbers, and every genuine addition strengthens the party.”

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Speaking on the recent Court of Appeal judgment which dismissed the suit seeking the deregistration of the ADC, Abdullahi described the ruling as a vindication of the party’s position.

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“The appellate court made it clear that the earlier decision amounted to judicial rascality and insubordination. That simply confirms what we have maintained all along.

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“We are pleased that the Court of Appeal upheld the rule of law, but we are not going to celebrate a court for merely doing what is right. We remain courteously delighted,” he stated.

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On the 2027 governorship race, Abdullahi expressed confidence that the ADC candidate, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, would defeat the APC candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, despite both politicians coming from the same local government area in Kwara North.

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Abdullahi said, “Incidentally, both our candidate, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, and the APC candidate are from the same local government. Therefore, the people of Kwara North know both men very well and are in the best position to judge who possesses the better experience and leadership capacity.

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“With due respect, how can someone with the wealth of political and administrative experience that Zakari Muhammed possesses be compared with a young man whose highest political office has been serving as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly?

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“The people of Kwara North have waited for years for the opportunity to produce the state’s governor. Now that the opportunity has come, they deserve to choose the better candidate, and we believe that candidate is Zakari Muhammed.”

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He further argued that equity demanded power should shift to Kwara North after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s tenure.

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“It is politically wrong and morally unjust for someone from Ilorin to govern the state for eight years and then be succeeded by another person from the same local government.

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“We want to build a Kwara where every part of the state feels a sense of belonging. Unity can only be sustained on the foundation of justice, and justice requires that the next governor should emerge from Kwara North,” he added.

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Asked whether the party trusted the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a credible election, Abdullahi said the ADC would depend on vigilance rather than confidence in the electoral body.

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He noted, “It is not about trusting INEC. We acknowledge that there are people within the commission who remain committed to doing the right thing, but we are not going into the election relying on trust.

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“We trusted the process in 2023 and saw what happened. This time, our focus is on protecting every vote. That is why we always say that whether the election is free and fair or otherwise, President Bola Tinubu will lose because we will ensure that every vote cast for the ADC counts.”

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Commenting on the AbdulRazaq administration, Abdullahi said although the governor had recorded some achievements, he believed the government could have performed better by paying greater attention to the aspirations of the people.

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“My concern has always been governance. I genuinely believe Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq could have done much better than he has done.

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“I will not join those who are fighting him for political reasons because he is not my enemy. As a citizen of Kwara State, my responsibility is to assess governance objectively.

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“I believe he could have carried the people along more effectively and paid greater attention to their needs and expectations. My criticism is about governance, not about him as a person,” he said.

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Abdullahi also attributed the massive turnout at the rally to growing public confidence in the ADC, saying the party had exceeded its own expectations despite lacking the financial strength of its rivals.

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He emphasised, “You can see the mammoth crowd. During the planning stage, we were genuinely worried because we do not have the kind of money some political parties use to mobilise crowds.

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“We expected that turnout would be modest, but we were pleasantly surprised to see thousands of people voluntarily join us in a 13-kilometre walk from Adeta Roundabout to this venue.

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“Even more remarkable was the fact that nobody dropped out along the way. That level of commitment tells us that people are genuinely looking for an alternative and believe the ADC represents that alternative.”

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Also speaking, the ADC senatorial candidate for Kwara North, Taoheed Usman, described the rally as evidence of the party’s growing grassroots acceptance across the state.

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He claimed, “The strength of the ADC in Kwara is extraordinary. The turnout we witnessed today speaks for itself, and I doubt whether any other political party has attracted such a crowd anywhere in the country in recent times.

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“We have rebuilt our structure, reconnected with the people and returned stronger than before. Today, we enjoy a significant advantage because people are beginning to see the ADC as the platform capable of bringing genuine change.”

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On insecurity in parts of the state, Usman assured residents that an ADC administration would make security its foremost priority while pursuing broader development goals.

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“We recognise that insecurity remains one of the greatest challenges confronting our communities. Without adequate security, meaningful development cannot take place.

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“Our agenda is straightforward. We will strengthen security, improve education and healthcare, expand agricultural development and run an inclusive government where every citizen has a sense of belonging and equal opportunity,” he noted

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