A leading figure in the African Democratic Congress, Hon. Chille Igbawua, has responded to criticism following the party’s underwhelming performance in Saturday’s bye-elections across several states.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Igbawua emphasized that the candidates fielded by the ADC and other opposition parties were not directly nurtured by key political figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, or Nasir El-Rufai.
According to him, the outcome might have been different if those prominent leaders had personally backed or mentored the candidates.
He stressed the role of individual appeal in electoral success. “Personality is important. Sometimes the structure is important but the personality is also critically important,” he said.
Citing Peter Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, Igbawua noted, “When Peter Obi contested for the presidency, he didn’t have a structure and he won twelve states. But does he have 12 governors in the states? No.” He added, “Peter Obi didn’t have structures yet he was able to win the election in twelve states, including Lagos State.”
Igbawua maintained that the influence of prominent opposition leaders may not automatically transfer to candidates they have not personally groomed. “If Peter Obi were on the ballot during this Saturday’s election, you’ll see a different thing. If El-Rufai and Atiku or Tambuwal were on the ballot, it would be a different thing. But these people weren’t on the ballot so the image and political image they carry may not go for candidates that they did not nurture into the election,” he explained.
His remarks come in response to a post by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who mocked the opposition after the bye-election results. Onanuga had shared a photo of Obi, Atiku, and El-Rufai on X, captioned: “How is the market now?”
Despite the ADC’s poor showing, Igbawua described the party’s involvement as a significant step. “The performance of the ADC in this election was a wonderful performance in the sense that this was a party that was virtually silent until the coalition came about,” he said.
In the recently concluded polls, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured the majority of the contested seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) made modest gains. The elections served as an informal test of the popularity of several opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
