We Didn’t Participate In By-Election – ADC Coalition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced its coalition from the recent by-election conducted across 16 states, clarifying that it was not part of the exercise despite the appearance of candidates under the party’s old structure.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, August 19, the ADC’s National Leader for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Chike Okogwu, said the coalition had no hand in the process, stressing that what played out was solely tied to the former party structure.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already concluded its processes before the coalition was formed, making it impossible for it to field candidates. 

“What Nigerians saw was the old ADC at work, not the coalition. The coalition itself did not take part in the by-election,” Okogwu stated.

He further criticised the credibility of the poll, describing it as a sham. “That election was flawed from beginning to end. It only gave us an insight into how those in charge intend to run the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Okogwu stressed that the coalition deliberately chose not to reveal its full strategies at this stage but had taken lessons from the outcome. 

He described the by-election as a “test case” that exposed the challenges ahead.

Okogwu insisted that Nigerians deserve a shift from transactional politics to transformational leadership. 

He maintained that the ADC coalition is committed to building a new kind of politics anchored on integrity and accountability.

Looking ahead to 2027, he assured Nigerians that the coalition would be fully prepared. 

“It will no longer be business as usual. By the time we head into the general elections, you will see a new brand of politics and leadership that puts citizens at the centre,” he concluded.