The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged dominant in the just-concluded by-elections, winning 12 out of 16 contested seats across 13 states — a performance its leaders describe as a strong endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The results dealt a major blow to the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, led by heavyweight politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi. Despite its high-profile lineup and growing momentum since its July launch, the ADC failed to secure a single seat.
Rubbing salt into the wound, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, mocked the ADC leaders in a Monday tweet. Sharing a picture of Atiku, Obi, and other coalition figures, he jeered:
“How is the market now?”
The coalition, which has styled itself as Nigeria’s alternative political force ahead of 2027, had pledged to unseat Tinubu amid mounting frustration over economic hardship and insecurity. However, last weekend’s elections showed no immediate threat to APC’s dominance.
Still, the ADC is crying foul. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of irregularities during the polls and called for an urgent investigation.
“INEC must sanction any official found to have compromised and take decisive steps to restore public confidence in our electoral system,” Abdullahi insisted.
The by-election outcome leaves the ADC coalition facing tough questions about its strength, unity, and ability to mount a serious challenge in 2027.
