Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has become the political home of some of the country’s finest citizens, as he rallied voters in Osun State ahead of the governorship election.
Atiku, who is the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, made the declaration on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, during the final campaign rally of the Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll.
The former Vice President used the occasion to appeal to residents of the State to support the ADC candidate, Najeem Folasayo Salaam, describing the Party as different from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord and other political parties.
The campaign rally attracted senior ADC leaders, Party supporters and political associates who gathered in Osogbo to mobilise support for Salaam before voters head to the polls on August 15.
Addressing the crowd, Atiku recalled the support he received from voters in Osun during previous elections, saying the State had demonstrated its confidence in him in the past.
He urged the electorate to reciprocate that support by voting for Salaam and the ADC in the governorship election.
According to Atiku, the decision to personally attend the final campaign rally was partly to appreciate the people of Osun for their previous support and to make a final appeal for their votes.
He expressed confidence that the large turnout at the rally was an indication of growing support for the ADC and its candidate.
Atiku also sought to distinguish the ADC from the established political parties, insisting that the Party represented a different political direction.
He told supporters that the ADC had attracted what he described as the “best of Nigerians,” urging voters to give the Party an opportunity to lead the State.
The former Vice President further assured the electorate that they would not regret voting for the ADC in Saturday’s election.
His appearance at the Osogbo rally was part of the Party’s final push to consolidate support for Salaam before the campaign period ends and voters decide who will govern the State.
The ADC candidate, Salaam, is a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. During the rally, he also presented some of the key issues around which his campaign has been built, including electricity, employment and improved welfare for residents.
Salaam said his administration, if elected, would prioritise the provision of stable electricity and pursue measures aimed at improving economic opportunities for young people in the State.
He also warned against electoral malpractice, telling supporters that the Party would remain vigilant during the election and protect its votes.
The ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, also addressed Party supporters at the rally, describing the gathering as a celebration of what he believed would be the Party’s victory in the governorship election.
Mark urged ADC members to participate fully in the election and remain committed to protecting the votes cast for the Party.
He said the presence of Atiku at the final campaign rally demonstrated the importance the Party attached to the Osun election.
Also speaking at the event, ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, said the Party was seeking to reconnect Osun with the progressive governance tradition associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Aregbesola urged voters to come out in large numbers and support the ADC candidate, while also insisting that the Party was not operating an alliance with another political party for the Osun governorship election.
The former Osun Governor has been one of the prominent figures supporting the ADC campaign in the State, alongside other national leaders of the Party.
Atiku’s campaign appearance came just days before the governorship election, making the rally an important opportunity for the ADC leadership to strengthen its appeal to voters.
The former Vice President has increasingly positioned the ADC as a major platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the movement of several prominent political figures into the Party.
His message in Osogbo therefore carried significance beyond the immediate governorship contest, as the ADC seeks to expand its political influence ahead of the next general election.
For the Osun governorship race, however, the immediate focus remains on the contest involving the major candidates and the ability of each political party to translate its campaign support into votes.
The ADC is hoping that the presence of Atiku, Mark, Aregbesola and other national figures will boost Salaam’s chances as voters prepare to make their choice.
Atiku’s appeal also reflects the broader strategy of the ADC to use its growing national profile to influence state-level elections before the 2027 presidential contest.
The former Vice President has urged Nigerians who share the Party’s political vision to support its candidates, while the Party continues its efforts to establish itself as a credible alternative to the dominant political platforms.
With the campaign now reaching its final stage, attention will shift to election day as voters in Osun State decide whether to retain the incumbent administration or hand the State to another political party.
For the ADC, the immediate objective is to secure victory for Salaam. For Atiku and the Party’s national leadership, a strong showing in Osun could also provide an important boost to the ADC’s wider political ambitions ahead of 2027.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.