Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has thrown his weight behind the party’s Osun State governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, ahead of Saturday’s election.

Atiku made his position known on Monday in Osogbo during the grand finale of the ADC governorship campaign, where he urged voters across the state to reject other political parties and cast their ballots for Salaam.

Addressing a large crowd of supporters, the former Vice President described the ADC as a different political platform, insisting that some of the country’s “best” political actors had now assembled under the party.

He said, “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.

“So, I have come and I am appealing to you, the next governorship election, you should vote for ADC. I believe you will not regret voting ADC in the forthcoming elections, that is why I have come personally to relate with you, to thank you for your previous support and to appeal to you to vote ADC in the next gubernatorial election.”

Atiku also thanked party supporters for their massive turnout, saying their presence had reinforced the confidence of the ADC leadership that the party could emerge victorious in the August 15 poll.

The rally was attended by the ADC National Chairman, David Mark; National Secretary and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; and other senior members of the party.

Aregbesola, who also addressed the gathering, said the ADC was contesting the election independently and expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious.

Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is seeking to defeat the incumbent, Ademola Adeleke, who is contesting under the Accord platform, as well as the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, among other contenders.

The campaign rally came amid heightened political tension in the state, with the August 15 governorship election drawing closer.

Earlier on Monday, Adeleke’s wife and Osun First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, led scores of women to the headquarters of the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo to protest alleged intimidation of voters and political actors.

The protesters, accompanied by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotoso, marched from the Lameco area through the West Bypass to the police headquarters.

They subsequently submitted a letter of protest to the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, CP Samuel Etaifo.

Adeleke called on the police to guarantee a free, fair and peaceful election, alleging that opposition elements were targeting some political leaders for arrest.

She also raised concerns over the alleged arrest and treatment of the Commissioner for Environment the previous Friday, claiming that the official was subjected to degrading treatment while in custody.

Responding, Etaifo assured the protesters that the police were committed to maintaining peace and providing adequate security before, during and after the election.

The police commissioner, however, warned political actors against activities capable of heightening tension in the state.

“If you notice, since I came, we have had relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again,” he said.

Etaifo said his deployment to Osun followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, with the mandate to stabilise the state and ensure that political actors and voters could participate in the electoral process without fear.