By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prof. Theodore Allison, has declared that the party will deliver more than 30 per cent of votes in the state to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2027 general elections.
Allison, who spoke in an interview with journalists in Yenagoa, expressed confidence in the party’s growing political strength, saying it was also working to win the Bayelsa governorship election.
He said the ADC coalition was established to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose policies he described as anti-people, and redirect the country’s economy towards the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
The ADC chairman disclosed that the party had fielded candidates for all 24 constituencies in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and all National Assembly seats in the state.
He expressed confidence in the candidates’ capacity to win elective positions at both state and federal levels.
Allison also accused President Bola Tinubu of pursuing a political agenda that undermined opposition parties, arguing that a leader confident in his achievements should welcome electoral competition and allow Nigerians to assess his performance.
“I don’t see any reason why someone who calls himself a strategist, who claims to have the heart of the people and listens to the yearnings of the people, should be afraid of the opposition,” he said.
He added that Tinubu should present his economic and political scorecard for Nigerians to judge rather than fear the opposition.
On the reported crisis within the Bayelsa ADC, Allison dismissed claims that the party had been factionalised, although he acknowledged disagreements among some members.
“As far as we are concerned, the ADC is not factionalised in Bayelsa State. Though there are aggrieved members and disagreements, we are open to dialogue to resolve all issues,” he said.
He stressed that the party was bigger than any individual and remained committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and adherence to its constitution.
According to him, the ADC’s distinguishing features include internal democracy, respect for its constitution and policies designed to protect the interests of future generations.
“What the ADC is trying to do differently is internal democracy. That is why we are structured in a way that there will be no internal capture of the party structure,” Allison said.
He accused those in power of being more interested in political control and personal enrichment than policies capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.
On the party’s electoral prospects, Allison attributed his confidence to what he described as changing political dynamics and the movement of members of the ruling APC into the ADC.
“Let me make it clear, the ADC will win more than 30 per cent for our presidential candidate, Atiku, and that is the least. We are critically working to win the governorship seat as well,” he declared.
The ADC chairman urged voters to consider the country’s economic situation before deciding which candidates to support in 2027.
He cited the increase in petrol prices from about N120 per litre to N1,500 per litre, arguing that the rising cost of fuel had worsened the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Allison said the impact was particularly severe in riverine communities, where residents depend heavily on boats and other forms of water transportation.
“In my community in Southern Ijaw LGA, it takes about 270 litres to travel. Do you think people in my community will be naive enough to support a mandate that has brought hunger, borrowed so much money, and is deceiving people with a coastal road project?” he asked.
He further urged voters in the South to be more vocal in demanding accountability from elected officials, citing instances where residents in parts of northern Nigeria openly challenged APC campaigners over the party’s performance.
“In some areas in the North, as the APC goes to campaign, the electorate tells them to their faces that they don’t want them anymore. That is what we in the South lack. We should demand our rights,” Allison said.
