ABUJA:  The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) following what it termed a disappointing Northwest zonal flag-off rally in Kaduna. According to the council, the event exposed the ruling party’s declining public support despite heavy mobilization efforts.

In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC alleged that the rally designed to project political dominance across the seven states of the Northwest and beyond fell significantly short of expectations.

Empty Seats and Allegations of Rented Crowds

The campaign council claimed that attendees were allegedly paid between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 each, yet the Kaduna Township Stadium, which it estimated has a capacity of 5,000, remained sparsely filled with visible empty seats.

“For a rally billed as the Northwest zonal flag-off, what we witnessed was a shameful spectacle. Despite the alleged mobilisation of crowds from across the zone and beyond, the stadium remained scantily filled, with empty seats everywhere,” Ologbondiyan stated.

He also noted that the crowd’s reception of speeches delivered by APC leaders was unenthusiastic, contrasting sharply with the ruling party's narrative of strong regional support. Furthermore, the council criticized President Bola Tinubu’s performance claims and the commissioning of road projects during the event.

According to the ADC-PCC, some participants chanted “Ba mu yi” a Hausa phrase interpreted as a rejection of the ruling party and its policies upon leaving the venue.

“You can rent a crowd, but you cannot rent acceptance. Even if people attend a rally, that does not mean they have surrendered their convictions. The real test of public support is what Nigerians will decide at the ballot box,” Ologbondiyan added.

Economic Hardship and Policy Criticisms

Beyond the rally itself, the council accused the APC of recycling campaign promises from the 2015, 2019, and 2023 election cycles without accounting for its tenure in power.

The ADC-PCC also criticized President Tinubu for allegedly shifting the blame for the country’s current economic hardship onto opposition leaders, rather than addressing the severe impacts of his administration’s policies—particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, which has intensified financial pressures on households.

Call to Action and the 2027 Outlook

The opposition council urged the ruling party to halt what it described as wasteful political jamborees, apologize to Nigerians for ongoing economic difficulties, and prepare for an orderly transfer of power in 2027.

Positioning the ADC as a viable alternative, the council expressed confidence that the electorate would use the upcoming general election to vote out the ruling party.