Seventeen political parties and 637 candidates are locked in a tense battle for 68 legislative seats today as Nigerians head to the polls for nationwide by-elections, but the spotlight has fallen squarely on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, now adopted by a coalition of opposition leaders as the main platform to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirmed that voting is taking place in 16 constituencies across 12 states, including two senatorial seats in Edo Central and Anambra South, five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun and Oyo, as well as multiple state assembly seats. Many of these contests were triggered by court rulings, resignations or the death of lawmakers.
For the ADC, today marks a decisive first outing since heavyweight opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former governors Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi rallied behind the party as the coalition’s preferred vehicle for 2027.
Analysts say the results could define the credibility of the alliance. “The outcome of these by-elections will serve as a litmus test for whether ADC can carry the burden of opposition unity or whether the APC will continue to dominate the political terrain,” Abuja-based political strategist Chinedu Okoye told The Observers Times.
One of the most eye-catching moments came in Anambra where Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, was seen campaigning for the ADC candidate in the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency. That move unsettled his Labour base, sparking speculation that he may have quietly shifted allegiance. But the Labour Party chairman in Anambra, Hon. Emeh Ugochukwu Emmanuel, defended him, saying Obi acted out of principle. “INEC deceived Peter Obi. INEC cunningly inserted our logo on ballot papers but refused to upload details of our candidates. He could not condone that and decided to campaign for ADC.
The woman contesting under ADC is actually our candidate by spirit because she was meant to run on Labour’s platform,” Emmanuel explained that the candidate was the widow of a slain politician, and her emergence was “a kind of compensation for the family.”
Meanwhile in Kaduna, former governor Nasir El-Rufai drew crowds in Chikun Local Government while campaigning for ADC’s candidate Alex Adamu, but his appearance triggered criticism online with rivals accusing him of sidelining candidates of his own party, the Social Democratic Party, SDP. In a video released later, El-Rufai pushed back, insisting: “I am calling on all our voters in Zaria and Sabon Gari to come out massively and support the SDP. That is our platform.” His dual messaging underscored the fluid alliances shaping Nigeria’s opposition politics.
