Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The New Media aide to the Jigawa State Governor, Comrade Muhammad Garba, has launched a scathing attack on the African Democratic Congress, dismissing the opposition party as a regional fringe movement with no meaningful presence outside a handful of northern local government areas. Garba's criticism came in the wake of the ADC's dismal performance in Saturday's Osun State governorship election, where the party's candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, managed a paltry 17,180 votes, placing a distant third behind the winner, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who secured 511,067 votes, and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Writing on his official Facebook page on Sunday, August 16, 2026, Garba did not mince words in his assessment of the ADC's electoral showing. "I have been telling our people that this ADC will not make any impact. It only exists in a few local governments in the North," he declared. The aide, who is a vocal supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressed shock at the party's poor performance in the South-West, suggesting that the outcome had laid bare the gap between the ADC's rhetoric and its actual electoral strength. "I was shocked by the poor performance of the ADC in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election," Garba said.
The Osun election results, which saw Adeleke secure a second term in office with victories in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, have become a reference point for political commentators assessing the strength of Nigeria's opposition parties. While the Accord Party's victory was celebrated by its supporters, the ADC's showing has raised questions about its ability to project itself as a national political force ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party had entered the Osun race with high hopes, but its performance fell far short of expectations.
Garba used the opportunity to praise President Tinubu for what he described as a hands-off approach to the election, arguing that the President's refusal to interfere in the electoral process had demonstrated his commitment to democratic principles. "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proven himself as a true democrat by allowing citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities without interference," Garba said. He stressed that occupying the presidency did not automatically mean that every election conducted during his administration must be won by his political party, adding that the distinction was crucial to the survival of democracy. According to Garba, the outcome of the Osun election went beyond the figures recorded at the polls, describing it as a significant expression of democratic choice and an opportunity to consider the state of Nigeria's democracy under President Tinubu. "When electoral institutions are allowed to function independently and citizens are free to choose their leaders, it strengthens public confidence in democracy and demonstrates the resilience of Nigeria's democratic institutions," he said.
The ADC's performance in Osun is likely to fuel further debate about the party's viability as a national platform, particularly given its ambitions to field a presidential candidate in 2027. The party has been positioning itself as a coalition of opposition forces, with prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola among its ranks. However, its inability to make a significant impact in a South-West state has raised doubts about its capacity to challenge the ruling APC on a national scale.
Garba's comments also reflect the broader political dynamics in the North, where the ADC has been attempting to build a presence ahead of the 2027 elections. In Jigawa State, the party has attracted defections from the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the New Nigeria People's Party, with some observers describing the movement as a potential political realignment. However, Garba's dismissal of the ADC as a party that "only exists in a few local governments in the North" suggests that the ruling APC is not losing sleep over the ADC's ambitions. For the ADC, the Osun result is a sobering reminder that building a national political movement requires more than just high-profile defections and media appearances; it requires the ability to translate grassroots support into electoral victories. As the 2027 elections approach, the party will need to address its electoral weaknesses if it hopes to challenge the APC's dominance.
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