…As Ashiru predicts ADC victory in 2027
By Henry Obetta
Prince Anazado Josiah Azubuike has emerged as the consensus candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election.
Anazado secured 38 votes at the party’s substitution primary held in Lagos on Saturday, with the exercise conducted in the presence of party officials and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking after the exercise, Chairman of ADC in Lagos State, George Ashiru, said the primary was organised in accordance with the Electoral Act, adding that the presence of INEC and party leadership was to ensure compliance with the law.
Ashiru, however, expressed confidence that the ADC would emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections, attributing the party’s prospects to what he described as growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians with the current political situation.
“Nigerians are tired and Nigerians need an incredible alternative to believe in. They need a political party that they can look at and say, okay, this one looks like it can help us, and ADC has positioned itself as the party that can do so,” he said.
According to him, the party’s strategy would not depend on a coalition of politicians but on a coalition of voters seeking an alternative to the existing political order.
“The coalition of voters, not the coalition of politicians. When all voters just decide that we are going to support this particular party because the candidates and the message is unifying and covers every need, that’s what ADC is selling,” Ashiru said.
He also predicted a strong performance for the ADC in Lagos, arguing that many residents felt excluded from governance.
“Lagosians are going to say no, not this time around. This time around we are going to make a statement that we all have a part in the governance of the state,” he said.
Ashiru urged Nigerians to support the ADC as an alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking after emerging as the consensus candidate, Anazado said his experience in community leadership, coupled with his training as a political scientist, had prepared him for legislative responsibilities.
“I have studied so much about public policy, democratic institutions and also lawmaking, which happens to be the major work of a legislator,” he said.
Anazado promised inclusive representation if elected, with emphasis on infrastructure, empowerment and policies targeted at vulnerable residents.
He identified poor road infrastructure as one of the major challenges confronting the constituency, saying he would seek greater federal intervention in the area.
He also promised to promote small-scale businesses and empower low-income residents, saying his legislative agenda would focus on policies capable of improving the lives of ordinary people.
The ADC candidate criticised what he described as the poor performance of successive representatives of the constituency, saying the state of infrastructure raised questions about the level of representation Amuwo-Odofin had received.
Anazado also accused some members of the National Assembly of prioritising personal interests over those of their constituents.
“It is quite unfortunate to say that most people at the National Assembly are there for their own parochial interests. They don’t place the interests of the people that they are representing in their hearts,” he said.
He pledged that, if elected, he would champion people-oriented policies and ensure that the interests of constituents remained central to his legislative activities.
Anazado also urged voters to exercise their franchise responsibly and resist attempts to influence their votes with temporary inducements.
“They should not sell their four-year future for a piece of porridge. Even if politicians give them money, even if they take the money, they should vote their conscience. You cannot mortgage four years with a bag of rice,” he said.
Also speaking, the ADC candidate for Lagos West Senatorial District, Hafiz Owolabi-Bello, said Lagos politics had for years been dominated by a system in which candidates were selected without sufficient regard for the wishes of the people.
“Politics in Lagos State has never been politics. It has always been the old system, choosing somebody over the wish of the people. We need to always get the different narratives by doing the diligence, by voting. Let the people speak or make their choices,” he said.
He urged voters to reject electoral apathy and make conscious choices at the polls, arguing that governance should be entrusted to people capable of delivering on their responsibilities.
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