BY AHMED AKANBI
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intensified the campaign for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, urging voters to support the party’s candidate, Najeem Salaam.
Atiku made the appeal on Monday at the ADC’s grand finale campaign rally in Osogbo, where he told supporters that the party had distinguished itself and now comprised what he described as “the best of Nigerians.”
Addressing the large crowd, the former Vice President said the ADC offered Osun voters a different political option and urged them to trust the party with the leadership of the state.
“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.
He expressed confidence that voters would not regret supporting Salaam, saying his decision to personally attend the rally was aimed at thanking Osun residents for their previous support and seeking their backing for the ADC candidate.
Atiku also commended party supporters for their turnout, saying the large crowd had reinforced the confidence of the party leadership that the ADC could secure victory in Saturday’s election.
The rally was attended by several prominent ADC leaders, including the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and National Secretary and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
Aregbesola, who also addressed the rally, said the ADC was entering the election independently and expressed confidence in its chances of victory.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is the ADC candidate in the August 15 governorship election.
The election is expected to be closely contested, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji and Salaam of the ADC among the leading contenders.
The ADC rally marked one of the party’s final major efforts to mobilise voters ahead of the poll.