ADC Vows To Protect Its Votes Ahead Of 2027 Election

(Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. Photo Credit: Vanguard News)

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) would take action to safeguard its votes in the 2027 general elections, according to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the party.

During the party’s walk-to-rule event on Wednesday in Ilorin, which was intended to raise awareness of the ADC among the people living in the capital of Kwara State, Abdullahi made this statement while chatting with reporters.

He said that while some officials within INEC remain committed to conducting credible elections, the party would not base its electoral strategy on trust alone, stressing that although INEC still has people committed to doing the right thing, the party would not run its election on trust.

The ADC spokesman added that the party had trusted the electoral process in previous elections but was disappointed with the outcome, stressing that it would defend its votes in 2027, recalling that they had trusted INEC in 2023 and seen what happened, and would not extend the same trust with their votes this time around.

Asked how the party intends to protect its votes, Abdullahi said he would not disclose details but insisted that whatever it takes to win the election would be done.

Speaking on the walk-to-rule exercise, the ADC chieftain said members initially had concerns about its success given the party’s limited resources compared with other political parties capable of mobilising large crowds, but noted that the turnout exceeded expectations, as many supporters walked about 13 kilometres from Adeita Roundabout in Ilorin to the party’s state secretariat in the Basin area.

He said the development showed that the party had attracted genuine support from residents and demonstrated that the ADC could provide an alternative political platform for Kwarans ahead of 2027.

Abdullahi urged residents of the state to support the ADC and vote for its candidates, saying the party would focus on improving socio-economic conditions, particularly in rural communities.

On the party’s Kwara governorship candidate, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, a two-term member of the House of Representatives.

Abdullahi said he possesses greater experience and pedigree compared with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, noting that since both candidates hail from Kwara North, residents of the senatorial district would have the opportunity to choose based on experience, competence and track record.

Commenting on the performance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Abdullahi said the governor could have achieved more had he carried more people along and paid closer attention to the needs of residents, though he stressed that the governor was not his enemy and that he would not join those seeking to engage him in political battles.

He explained that he believed the governor could have performed better, but since some people were fighting him and looking for others to join in attacking him, he would not be part of that, insisting that the governor was not his enemy and that he was not interested in fighting anyone’s political battle.

Abdullahi added that his criticism of the governor was based purely on governance issues and not a personal attack.