The All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again tightened its grip on Nigeria’s political landscape, sweeping 12 out of the 16 constituencies contested in Saturday’s by-elections across 13 states.
According to results compiled at press time, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won one seat each. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite the hype and heavy political backing it enjoyed ahead of the polls, failed to register a single victory.
The by-elections, which attracted 637 candidates from 17 parties jostling for 68 vacant seats at federal and state levels, were seen as a litmus test for the ADC. The party had been adopted by a coalition of opposition figures positioning it as a rallying platform to unseat APC in the 2027 general elections.
But Saturday’s outcome told a different story. Vacant seats in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Onitsha North 1, Anambra South Senatorial District, and Bagwai Shanono Constituency went to PDP, APGA, and NNPP candidates, leaving ADC empty-handed.
Before the polls, interim National Chairman of ADC, David Mark, had rallied Nigerians to support what he called a “child of necessity” party, promising that the ADC would offer a credible alternative to APC dominance. Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling party, also openly canvassed for ADC’s Chikun/Kajuru candidate, Alex Adamu, urging voters to give the party a chance.
But the results exposed the wide gap between ADC’s political rhetoric and its electoral strength on the ground. The party’s Ogun State chairman, Femi Soluade, had earlier accused the state government of using security operatives to harass ADC members and frustrate campaign efforts. Similarly, ex-ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu had alleged that the APC was determined to capture all 16 seats as part of its 2027 takeover strategy.
For now, however, APC’s sweeping victory underscores its continuing dominance of Nigeria’s political space — and leaves the ADC facing tough questions about its ability to challenge that supremacy in the road to 2027.