By Jude Opara
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its Northwest zonal campaign flag-off in Kaduna, alleging that the ruling party struggled to attract a significant crowd despite spending heavily on mobilization.
The ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegations in a statement reacting to the APC rally held at the Kaduna Township Stadium.
Ologbondiyan claimed that the APC mobilized people from the seven states in the Northwest and other parts of the country, allegedly paying between N50,000 and N100,000 per person to secure attendance.
Despite the reported mobilization, he said the stadium, which he claimed could accommodate about 5,000 people, had numerous empty seats.
“For a rally billed as the Northwest zonal flag-off, what we witnessed was a shameful spectacle. Despite the alleged mobilization of crowds from across the zone and beyond, the stadium remained scantily filled, with empty seats everywhere,” he said.
The opposition spokesperson also described the audience’s response to speeches by APC leaders as unenthusiastic, arguing that the turnout raised questions about the ruling party’s popularity among voters.
He further questioned President Bola Tinubu’s reported commissioning of road projects during the event, criticizing the administration’s presentation of its achievements.
Ologbondiyan also alleged that some attendees leaving the stadium chanted “Ba ma yi”, a Hausa expression he interpreted as a rejection of the APC and its policies.
He argued that attendance at political rallies should not be mistaken for genuine public acceptance.
“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,” he said.
The ADC-PCC also accused the APC of recycling campaign promises made during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections without adequately accounting for its performance after years in power.
The council criticised Tinubu for allegedly blaming opposition figures for the country’s economic difficulties rather than addressing the consequences of his administration’s policies.
It specifically faulted the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased financial pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.
The opposition campaign council called on the APC to discontinue what it described as wasteful political gatherings, apologize to Nigerians over the economic situation and prepare for a peaceful transfer of power in 2027.
It also presented the ADC as an alternative for Nigerians seeking a change in leadership, urging voters to express their preferences through the ballot in the forthcoming general election.
The allegations concerning crowd mobilization, payments to attendees and the rally’s reception were made by the ADC-PCC and were not independently established in the report.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
