Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has predicted victory for the party in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, saying the ADC will shock the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord at the polls.
Atiku made the declaration on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, during the ADC’s mega final campaign rally ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Final Campaign Rally
Addressing a large gathering of ADC supporters, Atiku urged residents of Osun State to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, describing the ADC as a political platform that has attracted some of Nigeria’s best minds.
He said the party was different from the APC, Accord and other political parties, while assuring voters that they would not regret supporting the ADC.
Atiku said his decision to attend the rally personally was also an opportunity to appreciate the people of Osun State for their previous support and appeal directly for their votes in the forthcoming election.
He said:
“I have come today to appeal to you to vote for the ADC. This is because the ADC I can assure you is different from APC, is different from Accord, is different from all other parties because the best of Nigerians is today in ADC.”
He subsequently urged the electorate to support Salaam in the governorship election.
“I have come, and I am appealing to you: in the next governorship election, you should vote for ADC. I believe you will not regret voting ADC in the forthcoming elections.”
Atiku also praised ADC supporters for turning out in large numbers for the final campaign rally, saying the turnout had strengthened the confidence of the party’s leadership that victory was within reach.
ADC’s Campaign Position
The former Vice President used the rally to present the ADC as an alternative to the other major political forces contesting the Osun governorship election.
His message centred on the party’s claim to represent a different political platform and his appeal for voters to entrust the state’s leadership to its candidate.
The rally also brought together prominent figures within the party, including ADC National Secretary and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and ADC National Chairman, David Mark.
Aregbesola, while addressing the crowd, said the ADC was contesting the election independently and without an alliance with another political party.
He also expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious at the polls.
The strong turnout at the rally provided the ADC with an opportunity to demonstrate its level of mobilisation in the final stage of the campaign.
The ADC Candidate
The party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, is a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.
Salaam is seeking to lead the ADC into the governorship election as the party attempts to challenge the other major contenders for control of the state.
His candidacy was prominently featured at the final campaign rally, where Atiku called on voters to support the ADC candidate.
With campaigning now reaching its final stage, the party’s appeal to voters is centred on its promise of good governance and its claim that it offers a different political platform from its rivals.
What Atiku’s Declaration Means Politically
Atiku’s prediction that the ADC will shock the APC and Accord represents the party’s confidence heading into the final days before the election.
The former Vice President’s presence at the rally also gave the campaign a prominent national political dimension, with Atiku using the occasion to make a direct appeal to Osun voters.
However, his prediction remains a campaign position rather than an established electoral outcome.
The election itself will determine whether the ADC’s campaign mobilisation and appeal to voters are sufficient to translate into victory at the polls.
The contest also places the ADC alongside two other major political forces seeking to control the state.
The Electoral Test
The people of Osun State are scheduled to vote on Saturday, August 15, to elect a governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.
The contest is expected to feature three major contenders: ADC’s Najeem Salaam, the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, and Bola Oyebamiji of the APC.
With the campaigns now approaching their conclusion, the focus will shift from rallies and political promises to the voters and the ballot.
Atiku has asked Osun residents to choose the ADC and expressed confidence that the party will defeat its rivals.
The final test, however, will come when voters cast their ballots on Saturday and the outcome of the governorship election is determined.
