19 Northern States Have Fallen For ADC, APC Will Struggle To Campaign — Kenneth Okonkwo
Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that all 19 northern states have fallen for the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may struggle to even campaign due to public anger over its economic policies.
Okonkwo made the claim while speaking on AIT’s Democracy Today programme, where he discussed the ADC’s path to victory and the 2023 presidential election results.
Speaking on the programme, Okonkwo argued that widespread frustration with fuel price, cost of living and subsidy removal has turned voters in the North against the APC.
“What APC is praying for now is whether they will be allowed to campaign,” he said.
He said the disparity between the N70,000 minimum wage and fuel price of almost N1,500 per litre has eroded the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
“You’re paying somebody N70,000 as minimum wage, and fuel is almost N1,500. Your N70,000 can no longer afford you half a tank if your tank is 100 litres, without rent, without food,” he said.
Okonkwo accused the Tinubu administration of running anti-people policies, alleging that while subsidy on essentials was removed for the masses, the government still grants huge import waivers and other subsidies to the rich.
“You’re giving subsidy to the rich! N34 trillion in one year alone as import waiver. You saw the Humanitarian Minister saying they’ve shared N680 billion, and heard them saying they will share another $1.5 billion.
“And people are saying, why don’t you use this to give us subsidy in everything that will affect the whole economy?” he queried.
On ADC’s electoral strategy, Okonkwo said:
North: All 19 states have fallen for ADC.
South-South: The party will win some states and get more than 25% in all South-South states, arguing that the zone would embrace having its son as Vice Presidential candidate.
“What has Tinubu done for them? Giving them directors in parastatals? Ministerial appointment is compulsory for every state; that’s constitutional!” he said.
South-West: The ADC is targeting three states. “We may win Osun. We won Osun last time in 2023… Then Oyo State, I am expecting us to do well… Then Ogun State… Remember, Aregbesola is from there… Then Ondo, because there is a lot of crisis in APC… Then Tinubu has never been popular in Lagos,” he said.
He noted that Peter Obi won Lagos in 2023, which he said proves Tinubu has never been popular in the state.
South-East: The party will secure at least 25% in all five states.
He said the combination of northern discontent and competitive showings in the South puts ADC in a strong position to force at least a runoff, where the candidate with the highest number of votes would win.
