The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has attributed the party’s defeat in the November 25 Anambra State governorship election and the February 26 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council polls to internal weaknesses and external challenges. Speaking at the ongoing ADC national convention on Tuesday, Aregbesola acknowledged that poor funding and an unprepared party structure significantly hindered the party’s performance in both contests.
“In the 2025 Anambra State governorship election and the FCT local government election, we were not victorious for various reasons,” Aregbesola said. “Our opponents leveraged the power of incumbency, monetized the electoral process, and misused state resources. On our part, we struggled with inadequate funding and a general lack of readiness within our structure.”
Despite the setbacks, Aregbesola expressed confidence in the party’s ability to learn from these experiences and improve its performance in future elections. He specifically mentioned the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states as opportunities for the ADC to demonstrate its renewed strength and preparedness.
The FCT area council elections saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure five out of six seats, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning the remaining seat. The ADC, which participated in both elections, failed to secure any seats, underscoring the challenges it faces in building a competitive presence in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Aregbesola’s remarks highlight the broader issues of electoral financing and party organization in Nigeria, where incumbents often dominate due to access to state resources. The ADC’s admission of its shortcomings reflects a growing awareness within opposition parties of the need to strengthen internal structures and address funding gaps to remain viable in future contests.
