David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Senate President, presented the party's flag to Ekiti State governorship candidate Dare Bejide on Thursday, as the party concluded its campaign ahead of Saturday's off-cycle election. Speaking at the grand finale rally in Ado-Ekiti, Mark urged residents to vote massively for Bejide, expressing confidence in an ADC victory.
Mark urges voters to turn out in numbers
Mark thanked party faithful for their unwavering support throughout the campaign, emphasizing that Saturday's election offers Ekiti people a chance to chart a new political course. "I appreciate the support you have given our candidate so far, but Saturday is the day that matters most. Come out in your numbers and vote for the ADC. We are confident that we will return here to celebrate victory," he said. He later handed the party flag to Bejide, describing it as a symbol of the mandate he hopes the candidate will carry to the Government House.
Bejide: ADC has built strong grassroots structure
Receiving the flag, Bejide thanked the party leadership and stated that the ADC in Ekiti has built a formidable political structure capable of winning the election. "I want to tell our leaders that we have the best ADC coalition in any state in Nigeria. Since I emerged as the party's candidate, I have worked to ensure that the party has structures across all wards in Ekiti," he said. He added that the party has united politicians from different backgrounds, strengthening its chances.
Women leader appeals for inclusion
Earlier, the party's National Women Leader, Naomi Abel, commended women in Ekiti for supporting the ADC and urged them to convert support into votes. She appealed to Bejide not to sideline women if elected governor, noting their significant role in his campaign. "We have stood by you throughout this campaign. When you become governor, remember the women who supported your aspiration," she said.
Election details: high voter registration, low turnout pattern
The rally marked the ADC's final major event before Saturday's poll. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 1,059,360 voters are registered for the election, the highest since the state's creation, while 1,028,929 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected. Despite this, previous elections show low turnout: in the 2022 governorship election, only 360,753 votes were cast out of 989,224 registered voters. Political analysts identify key battleground local government areas such as Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Oye, and Ikere, whose voting patterns have historically influenced outcomes. With campaigns concluded, attention shifts to the ballot across the state's 16 local government areas.
