ADC Mocks APC Over Kaduna Rally, Alleges Empty Seats, Rented Crowd

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its Northwest zonal flag-off rally in Kaduna, alleging poor attendance, paid mobilisation and a lack of enthusiasm among supporters.

The ADC-PCC said the rally, held at the Kaduna Township Stadium, failed to demonstrate the ruling party’s political strength in the Northwest, despite the reported mobilisation of participants from the seven states in the region and beyond.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegations in a statement reacting to the rally, describing the event as a disappointment for the APC.

Ologbondiyan alleged that the ruling party had paid between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 to mobilise individuals to attend the rally, but claimed that the stadium, which he estimated had a capacity of 5,000, was still sparsely occupied.

“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.

The ADC-PCC spokesman argued that the turnout raised questions about the ruling party’s level of public acceptance in the region, although the council did not provide independent evidence to substantiate its claims about payments to attendees.

He also alleged that APC leaders received an unenthusiastic response from the audience during their speeches, insisting that physical attendance at a political gathering should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of genuine support for a party or its candidates.

According to him, the rally had failed to convey the level of popular backing the APC hoped to demonstrate as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

“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.

ADC Questions Tinubu's Performance Claims

The opposition campaign council also criticised President Bola Tinubu over the reported commissioning of road projects at the Kaduna event, questioning the administration’s presentation of its achievements.

Ologbondiyan argued that the President and the APC should account for their years in office rather than return to voters with promises similar to those made during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 election campaigns.

The council maintained that the ruling party had not adequately addressed public concerns about economic hardship, rising living costs and the impact of government policies on households.

It particularly faulted Tinubu’s position on fuel subsidy removal, which it argued had increased the financial pressure on Nigerians already grappling with the cost of food, transportation and other essential goods.

The ADC-PCC further accused the President of shifting responsibility for the country’s economic difficulties to opposition politicians instead of addressing the consequences of his administration’s decisions.

The council’s criticism comes amid early political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with political parties seeking to consolidate their support bases and present competing accounts of the government’s performance.

While the APC has used its rallies to showcase its political organisation and communicate its agenda to voters, opposition parties have sought to question the extent to which the administration’s policies have translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.

'Ba Mu Yi' Chant

Ologbondiyan also alleged that some participants expressed dissatisfaction with the APC after leaving the stadium, claiming that they chanted the Hausa phrase “Ba mu yi,” which he interpreted as a rejection of the ruling party and its policies.

However, the ADC-PCC did not provide independent confirmation of the alleged chants or establish how representative the reported reaction was of the wider audience or electorate in Kaduna State.

The council nevertheless cited the alleged incident as evidence, in its view, that attendance at political rallies should not be confused with voter approval.

It urged the APC to reconsider what it described as wasteful political gatherings and instead focus on addressing the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.

The opposition campaign council also called on the ruling party to apologise to Nigerians over the prevailing hardship and begin preparing for what it described as an orderly transfer of power in 2027.

ADC Positions Itself As Alternative

The ADC-PCC said its party represented an alternative for Nigerians seeking a change in leadership, expressing confidence that voters would use the next general election to assess the performance of the Tinubu administration.

Ologbondiyan maintained that the outcome of the 2027 election would ultimately depend on the choices Nigerians make at the ballot box rather than the size of crowds assembled at campaign events.

“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,” he declared.

The APC had yet to respond to the specific allegations contained in the ADC-PCC statement at the time of the statement's release.

The claims about paid mobilisation, attendance levels and reactions from participants could not be independently established from the opposition council’s statement alone.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of 2027, the competing claims by the ruling party and opposition groups are likely to place greater attention on economic performance, campaign mobilisation and the ability of political parties to translate public engagements into electoral support.