Atiku: ADC now home to Nigeria’s best, vote Najeem Salaam in Osun

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the political home of what he called the “best of Nigerians,” urging voters in Osun State to support the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, in Saturday’s election.

Atiku made the call on Monday in Osogbo during the grand finale of the ADC governorship campaign rally ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Addressing party supporters, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election said the party was different from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party and other political parties contesting the election.

He urged Osun voters to give the party their mandate, assuring them that they would not regret supporting its candidate.

“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,” Atiku said.

The former vice president said he personally attended the rally to appreciate the people of Osun for their previous support and canvass votes for Salaam.

“I believe you will not regret voting ADC in the forthcoming elections. That is why I have come personally to relate with you, to thank you for your previous support and to appeal to you to vote ADC in the next gubernatorial election,” he added.

Atiku also expressed optimism over the party’s chances, saying the large turnout of supporters at the rally had strengthened the confidence of the ADC leadership ahead of the poll.

The rally was attended by the ADC National Secretary and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and other senior party officials.

Aregbesola said the ADC would contest the election independently, dismissing suggestions that the party was relying on an alliance with another political platform.

Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is the ADC candidate in the election.

The August 15 poll will determine the next governor of Osun State, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and Salaam of the ADC among the leading contenders.