The opposition party says its 13-kilometre Ilorin road walk signals growing grassroots support ahead of the 2027 governorship election

The African Democratic Congress has vowed to end the All Progressives Congress’ eight-year administration in Kwara State at the 2027 general elections, with the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, declaring that growing public dissatisfaction has positioned the ADC as the state’s preferred political alternative.

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Abdullahi made the declaration on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after party supporters and loyalists took part in a 13-kilometre road walk organised as part of the party’s mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

The rally, which drew a large crowd through parts of the state capital, was presented by the party as evidence of growing grassroots support and a desire among Kwarans for a fresh political direction.

Addressing journalists after the event, Abdullahi said the enthusiasm surrounding the rally reflected what he described as the failure of the political change that inspired the 2019 “Otoge” movement to deliver the aspirations of residents.

“There was a reason for Otoge in 2019. It was like an exodus; a departure from Egypt, where people had grown tired of the government at the time,” Abdullahi said.

“We left Egypt, which was the PDP, eight years ago, but we have now realised that we are yet to arrive at the promised land.

If, after leaving Egypt eight years ago, we are still wandering in the wilderness, should we return to Egypt? Certainly not.”

Using the biblical analogy, the former Minister of Sports described the Peoples Democratic Party as “Egypt”, the APC as “the wilderness” and the ADC as “the promised land”.

Abdullahi said the ADC was confident of securing victories at both the national and state levels in 2027, arguing that voters were increasingly dissatisfied with the two major parties that have dominated Nigeria’s political landscape.

“We are confident that we will win both at the national and state levels because the ADC is the only party with a clear vision of what it wants to do for Nigerians,” he said.

He criticised the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a slogan that had failed to deliver meaningful impact for many Nigerians, while arguing that the PDP no longer possessed the strength it once had as the country’s main opposition party.

According to Abdullahi, the ADC now represents what he described as the most credible alternative for voters seeking a different political direction.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary also said the ADC remained open to receiving politicians from other parties but would not abandon its principles to accommodate new members.

“They have not approached us yet, but if they do, they will be welcomed into our fold; not the other way round,” he said.

Abdullahi said prospective defectors would be expected to embrace the party’s values of principle, accountability and public service rather than attempt to impose the political culture they were leaving behind.

He described the ADC as a platform seeking to promote what he called a new political culture, while acknowledging that every genuine addition to the party could strengthen its electoral prospects.

On a recent Court of Appeal judgment dismissing a suit seeking the deregistration of the ADC, Abdullahi described the decision as a vindication of the party’s position.

He said the appellate court’s ruling had reinforced the party’s confidence in the rule of law, although he maintained that the judiciary should not be celebrated simply for carrying out its constitutional responsibility.

The ADC’s growing confidence is particularly evident in its preparations for the 2027 governorship contest, where the party is backing Hon. Zakari Muhammed against the APC candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

Abdullahi noted that both candidates come from the same local government area in Kwara North, arguing that residents of the area were therefore well placed to assess their respective experience and leadership capacity.

He strongly backed Zakari Muhammed, describing the ADC candidate as the more experienced of the two and insisting that Kwara North deserved the opportunity to produce the next governor after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq completes his tenure.

“With due respect, how can someone with the wealth of political and administrative experience that Zakari Muhammed possesses be compared with a young man whose highest political office has been serving as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly?” Abdullahi asked.

He also framed the contest as a question of political equity, arguing that power should rotate to Kwara North rather than remain in the same area after AbdulRazaq’s tenure.

“It is politically wrong and morally unjust for someone from Ilorin to govern the state for eight years and then be succeeded by another person from the same local government,” he said.

“We want to build a Kwara where every part of the state feels a sense of belonging. Unity can only be sustained on the foundation of justice, and justice requires that the next governor should emerge from Kwara North.”

On the credibility of the 2027 electoral process, Abdullahi said the ADC would not rely solely on confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He acknowledged that some officials within the commission remained committed to conducting credible elections but said the party’s strategy would focus on protecting its votes at every stage of the process.

“It is not about trusting INEC,” he said.

“We trusted the process in 2023 and saw what happened. This time, our focus is on protecting every vote.”

Abdullahi went further to predict that President Bola Tinubu would lose the 2027 election, claiming the ADC would ensure that every vote cast for the party was properly protected and counted.

While criticising the direction of governance in Kwara, Abdullahi adopted a measured position on Governor AbdulRazaq personally, saying his concerns were focused on the administration’s performance rather than personal hostility towards the governor.

“My concern has always been governance. I genuinely believe Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq could have done much better than he has done,” he said.

“I will not join those who are fighting him for political reasons because he is not my enemy. As a citizen of Kwara State, my responsibility is to assess governance objectively.”

He acknowledged that AbdulRazaq had recorded some achievements but argued that the administration could have performed better by involving residents more closely in governance and responding more effectively to their needs and expectations.

The ADC also attributed the turnout at the Ilorin rally to growing confidence in the party, with Abdullahi acknowledging that the party lacked the financial resources available to some of its larger political rivals.

He said the scale of participation exceeded the organisers’ expectations, particularly because thousands of supporters reportedly completed the entire 13-kilometre route from Adeta Roundabout to the rally venue.

“We expected that turnout would be modest, but we were pleasantly surprised to see thousands of people voluntarily join us in a 13-kilometre walk from Adeta Roundabout to this venue,” Abdullahi said.

“Even more remarkable was the fact that nobody dropped out along the way. That level of commitment tells us that people are genuinely looking for an alternative and believe the ADC represents that alternative.”

The ADC’s senatorial candidate for Kwara North, Taoheed Usman, similarly described the rally as evidence of what he called the party’s expanding grassroots acceptance across the state.

Usman said the ADC had rebuilt its political structure and reconnected with voters, arguing that the turnout demonstrated a growing appetite for change.

“The strength of the ADC in Kwara is extraordinary. The turnout we witnessed today speaks for itself,” he said.

“We have rebuilt our structure, reconnected with the people and returned stronger than before.”

Usman also identified insecurity as one of the major issues that would shape the party’s campaign, promising that an ADC-led government would make the protection of lives and property a foremost priority.

He said the party’s broader agenda would focus on security, education, healthcare and agricultural development while promoting an inclusive government that gives residents across the state a sense of belonging.

The ADC’s mobilisation comes as political parties across Nigeria gradually intensify their preparations for the 2027 general elections.

In Kwara, the emerging contest is expected to draw particular attention to the performance of the APC administration, the strength of opposition parties and the question of power rotation among the state’s geopolitical zones.

For the ADC, the 13-kilometre road walk represents an early test of its ability to translate political messaging into sustained grassroots mobilisation.

The party’s challenge now will be to convert the enthusiasm displayed at the rally into a durable electoral structure capable of competing effectively against the APC’s established political machinery.

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With the 2027 election still ahead, the ADC Kwara 2027 campaign is already taking shape around promises of political change, regional equity and improved governance, setting the stage for a potentially competitive contest in the state.