The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused the All Progressives Congress of failing to demonstrate genuine public support at its Northwest campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna, alleging that attendees were paid to fill the venue.
The ADC-PCC said the rally at the Kaduna Township Stadium was poorly attended despite alleged mobilisation efforts across the seven states of the Northwest and beyond.
The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegations in a statement on Saturday, describing the event as a disappointment for the ruling party.
Ologbondiyan claimed that some attendees were reportedly offered between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 to participate, yet the stadium, which he said had a capacity of 5,000, remained sparsely filled.
“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,” he said.
He also criticised the reception given to speeches by APC leaders and questioned the significance of President Bola Tinubu’s reported commissioning of road projects during the event.
The ADC spokesman further alleged that some people leaving the rally chanted “Ba mu yi”, a Hausa expression he interpreted as a rejection of the APC and its policies.
“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 said.
The council accused the APC of repeating promises made during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 election campaigns without adequately accounting for its years in power.
It also faulted Tinubu over the economic hardship facing Nigerians, arguing that his administration should take responsibility for the impact of its policies rather than blame opposition figures.
The ADC-PCC specifically criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy, which it said had increased pressure on households already struggling with rising living costs.
The council urged the APC to stop what it described as wasteful political rallies, apologise to Nigerians over the economic situation and prepare for a peaceful transfer of power in 2027.
It described the ADC as an alternative for voters seeking a change of government and predicted that Nigerians would express their dissatisfaction with the APC at the next general election.
“The message from Kaduna is loud and clear: Nigerians are saying ‘Ba mu yi’ to the APC and Tinubu. Come 2027, they will speak even louder with their votes,” Ologbondiyan said.
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