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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, a party recently adopted by the coalition of opposition leaders plotting to sack the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027 have vowed to claim many seats in the by-election scheduled to take place across the country today.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is conducting by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states today.

During the election, two Senators are expected to be elected to represent Edo Central and Anambra South.

The election is also expected to hold in five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, as well as nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.

Similarly, INEC will be conducting elections in Enugu South I State Constituency of Enugu State and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State following a court order for re-run.

The seats became vacant after the last elections due to deaths, loss of seats after litigation and resignation.

The Edo Central seat became vacant, following the resignation of Senator Monday Okpebholo who was elected governor.

ADC tests popularity

The by-election will mark the first election since the coalition of opposition leaders adopted the ADC as platform to contest the 2027 polls.

Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former governors of Anambra, Kaduna and Rivers States, Peter Obi, Nasir El-rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, among others, have all been campaigning for ADC ahead of the by-election.

According to political analysts, the outcome of the elections may determine the strength of the ADC in the next elections.

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who was scheduled to lead the campaign of the party’s candidate for the November 8 Anambra State governorship poll was recently spotted campaigning for the ADC’s candidate for Onitsha North 1 House of Assembly by-election.

Although Obi is one of the key opposition leaders targeting President Tinubu’s removal in 2027 via ADC, he had consistently said he remained committed to the Labour Party.

His move to jettison the LP for ADC candidate triggered confusion in the political space last week.

However, the Labour Party Chairman in Anambra State, Hon. Emeh Ugochukwu Emmanuel, in a chat blamed INEC for Obi’s decision.

According to him, “INEC deceived Peter Obi. INEC cunningly inserted our logo on ballot papers but refused to upload details of our candidates so Peter Obi saw that as something he could not condone and decided to campaign for the ADC

“The ADC candidate in Onitsha is our candidate, she would have contested under the Labour Party but because of what INEC did, we decided that she should run using ADC.

Whether it has been uploaded or not, the court has given an order and the order must be obeyed.

“Labour Party is contesting in Anambra South Senatorial District but we don’t have a candidate in Onitsha North 1 because we wanted the woman to take over the seat of her husband who was murdered some time ago.

“It is a kind of compensation for the family. Although she is not in our party, she is still one of us”.