The All Progressives Congress (APC) has consolidated its hold on Nigeria’s political scene, winning 12 out of the 16 seats contested in Saturday’s by-elections across 12 states.
According to results compiled at press time, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) clinched one seat each.
But the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite enjoying high expectations and strong political endorsements before the polls, failed to secure a single victory.
The by-elections, which featured 637 candidates from 17 political parties contesting 68 vacant seats at both federal and state levels, had been billed as a major test for the ADC.
The party had been positioned by a coalition of opposition figures as the rallying platform to challenge APC’s dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But the results told a different story. Constituencies such as Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Onitsha North 1, Anambra South Senatorial District, and Bagwai Shanono went to PDP, APGA, and NNPP candidates, leaving ADC with nothing to show for its efforts.
Before the by-elections, the interim National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, had called on Nigerians to back what he described as a “child of necessity” party, assuring that the ADC would provide a credible alternative to the ruling APC.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected from the APC, also openly campaigned for the ADC’s Chikun/Kajuru candidate, Alex Adamu, urging voters to give the party a chance.
But Saturday’s outcome exposed the gap between ADC’s political rhetoric and its actual electoral strength. The party’s Ogun State chairman, Femi Soluade, had earlier accused the state government of deploying security operatives to harass its members and frustrate campaigns.
Similarly, former ADC chairman, Ralph Nwosu, also alleged that the APC was bent on capturing all 16 contested seats as part of its 2027 takeover strategy.
For now, APC’s sweeping performance underscores its continuing dominance of Nigeria’s political terrain — and leaves the ADC grappling with tough questions about its ability to mount a credible challenge ahead of the next general elections.
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