The much-hyped coalition of opposition leaders suffered a major blow on Saturday as their adopted platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), failed to win a single seat in the controversial re-run and by-elections held across 12 states.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other opposition figures had campaigned vigorously for ADC candidates, pitching the exercise as a litmus test for their 2027 ambitions. But the results told a different story.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured the lion’s share with 12 seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) managed one seat each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) picked up two.
In Enugu State, the re-run in Enugu South Urban Constituency collapsed for the fourth time amid violence and accusations of sabotage among PDP, APC, and Labour Party agents.
The polls, already overshadowed by low turnout, were marred by violence, thuggery, and brazen vote-buying in Ogun, Kaduna, Anambra, and Kano States.
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In Ogun, police and DSS operatives arrested two PDP chieftains and suspected INEC officials with large sums allegedly meant for vote-buying.
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In Kaduna, security agents intercepted ₦25m in cash allegedly set aside for voter inducement.
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In Kano, police paraded 288 thugs armed with dangerous weapons.
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In Anambra, the APC governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, was accused of assaulting the State Commissioner for Environment during a clash.
The Labour Party in Edo accused APC of rigging through “fraud, vote buying and intimidation,” but said it would not challenge the outcome in court, citing lack of faith in the system.
ADC, for its part, claimed the results did not reflect its true strength, alleging widespread intimidation and corruption. National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the exercise “once again highlighted the collapse of Nigeria’s electoral process under APC rule.”
The crushing defeat raises fresh doubts about the viability of the opposition coalition and whether its big-name backers can truly mount a challenge to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
