The interim National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has urged Nigerians to support the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, promising significant relief from current economic and social challenges. Speaking to journalists in Ilorin, Abdullahi expressed confidence that Nigerians are ready to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) due to the widespread suffering across the country. He stated: “The most important thing is that our job is half done with the current hunger in the land. The major task we have is to convince Nigerians that we are the alternative.”
According to him, the APC has lost public trust: “What is clear is that Nigerians don’t want APC anymore. Any Nigerian who is suffering today knows that they don’t want APC anymore. We must convince Nigerians that we represent the alternative.” He added that, “a hungry person knows he doesn’t want to continue to be hungry. A person who can’t afford to pay hospital bills knows that he doesn’t want to continue.”
Abdullahi stressed that the challenge lies in proving that ADC is different and credible: “We only have a challenge convincing Nigerians that we are different and that we are going to represent the alternative.”
Explaining the rationale behind the formation of ADC, Abdullahi blamed the current administration for worsening the lives of ordinary Nigerians through poor policies, especially the increase in fuel prices. “Why we created ADC was that this current administration has increased the suffering of Nigerians as a result of its catastrophic policies and how they increased fuel price,” he said.
He illustrated the impact with everyday examples: “The vulcanizer that needs fuel for his tyre pumping machine knows how much effect it is having on him now. Parents sending their children to school know how much they give their children to eat at school. N5,000 now is not up to the N500 before the APC came on board. And they caused everything.”
Abdullahi accused the ruling party of deliberately weakening other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections: “They saw that the opposition parties that can stand against them in 2027 must be scattered… Look at the way they scattered other parties, including PDP, SDP, ANPP, LP. They ruptured them all.”
He said this was what prompted seasoned politicians to form the ADC: “This step they took was what made dignified politicians come together to create ADC. We mustn’t let those people who have turned the country into chaos continue to ruin Nigeria; that was why we went to ADC.”
Outlining the party’s priorities, Abdullahi promised immediate action on hunger, fuel prices, and security: "What we can do to earn the people's trust is we will first eradicate hunger from the nation. I had tasted hunger before, so i know what it feels like to be starved." He also said, "second, fuel price will be drastically reduced. With the fuel price now, one cannot make profit in business. Thirdly, we will tackle insecurity in the nation."
He cited insecurity in parts of Kwara State as a personal concern: “Kwara State was one of the most peaceful states back then but now, Patigi, Ifelodun, Babanla are now full of kidnappers and bandits. I have a farm in that area, it’s not safe for me to go there right now because of bandits.” He concluded by affirming the unity and determination of ADC members: “In this party, we have politicians from PDP, SDP, NNPP, LP. By God’s grace, we are so focused on returning peace and comfortability back to Nigeria.”
