A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Hon. Chille Igbawua, has explained why candidates from the party and other opposition platforms lost in Saturday’s bye-elections across various states.
He clarified that these candidates were not nurtured by strong political figures like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, or Nasir El-Rufai.
Importance of Personality in Elections
According to Igbawua, election structures matter, but personality plays an equally critical role.
He emphasized that the outcome would have been different if someone like Peter Obi had been on the ballot.
Peter Obi’s 2023 Example
Igbawua recalled that Peter Obi had no political structure in 2023 but still won the presidential election in 12 states, including Lagos.
He stressed that personality-driven politics often influences results more than structures.
Onanuga’s Mockery of Opposition
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, mocked opposition figures after ADC’s poor outing in the bye-elections.
In a post on X, Onanuga shared a picture of Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai with the caption: “How is the market now?”
Opposition Testing Popularity
Reports indicate that opposition leaders, who are aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, used ADC in the bye-elections to test their political strength.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won most of the seats, while PDP and NNPP secured limited victories.
Personality Versus Structure
Speaking in an interview on Arise News, Igbawua stressed that Peter Obi’s success in 2023 showed the weight of personality over party structures.
He noted that Obi won 12 states without having governors or strong structures in those areas.
Hypothetical Scenarios
The ADC chieftain argued that if Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, or Aminu Tambuwal had contested in Saturday’s elections, the outcome would have been different.
He explained that political leaders’ images do not automatically transfer to candidates they did not nurture.
ADC’s Performance Described as “Wonderful”
Despite the loss, Igbawua maintained that ADC’s performance was commendable.
He said the party was largely silent before forming a coalition, and its participation in the bye-elections marked significant progress.