Atiku, Mark, Aregbesola rally support for ADC candidate in Osun
By Ismail Azeez
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, appealed to Osun voters on Monday to support the party in the August 15 governorship election, describing the ADC as a platform representing the best of Nigerians.
Atiku made the appeal while speaking at the ADC grand campaign rally held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, where he urged voters to back the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Najeem Salaam.
Recalling his longstanding political relationship with the state, Atiku noted that Osun voters had consistently supported him in past elections.
He mentioned that he had previously campaigned in the state for the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, as well as during his own presidential bid, and that voters backed his stance on both occasions.
“This is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. Each time I have stood here, you have given me your votes. I cannot forget that, especially since your daughter is in my home,” Atiku said.
“I came here for the current governor, and I asked you to support him, and you voted for him. I came here during my presidential campaign, and you voted for me, defeating Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the state. I cannot forget that. Today, I have returned to appeal to you once more to vote for the ADC. The ADC is distinct from the APC, Accord, and other political parties. The finest minds in Nigeria today are in the ADC,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, stated that the rally was organized to celebrate what he described as the party’s impending victory in Saturday’s election.
Mark urged voters to turn out in large numbers on election day, cast their ballots, and guard their votes against any attempts at electoral manipulation.
“We are here today to celebrate the victory that will come to the ADC on Saturday. Our presidential candidate is here with us, demonstrating his commitment to this party. When we swear in Najeem Salaam in November, we will gather here again to march with you to the Government House.”
“On Saturday, protect your votes. Do not allow anyone to rig the election. They will not rig and get away with it,” Mark declared.
Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, emphasized the party’s commitment to improving public welfare through accountable governance and social interventions.
Aregbesola noted that leadership should focus on service, opportunity, and restoring public trust, positioning the ADC as a progressive party anchored on the ideals of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He promised that an ADC administration would prioritize rural electrification, mechanized agriculture, and innovation hubs to generate jobs and drive productivity.
“We previously invested in healthcare, social welfare, and emergency response systems like O-AMBULANCE. We introduced O’YES for youth empowerment, O’MEALS for school feeding, and O’REAP for agriculture. These and many other laudable initiatives will return under this administration,” Aregbesola said.
“This election is about the future of Osun delivering quality education, youth opportunities, prosperity for farmers, and a government that truly serves its people,” he added.
Accepting the party’s flag, the ADC governorship candidate, Dr. Najeem Salaam, pledged that his administration would prioritize human capital development and institutional reforms across all sectors.
He also issued a firm warning that the party would resist any attempts to compromise the electoral process.
Salam committed to creating 20,000 jobs for youths within his first 100 days in office if elected.
“On Saturday, no one will be allowed to rig us out. What happened in Ekiti State will not happen here. If we win this election, I assure you that power supply will be stable, we have a concrete plan to deliver on that promise,” Salaam stated.
“Education from primary to secondary school will be completely free, and we will establish a committee to review and reduce tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions. Children from ages one to 18 will receive free medical care in well-equipped public hospitals, pregnant women will access free healthcare, and structured welfare will be provided for our elderly and widows,” he concluded.