Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland Magazine
Di African Democratic Congress (ADC) don release di names of im governorship and deputy governorship candidates wey go represent di party for di 2027 general elections across 28 states for Nigeria.
Among di prominent names wey dey di list na former Labour Party governorship candidate for Lagos State for di 2023 election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; former Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; former Delta State governorship candidate, Great Ogboru; and former Kaduna State governorship candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru.
For Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour go contest under di ADC platform with Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere as im running mate. Rhodes-Vivour bin contest di 2023 Lagos governorship election under di Labour Party and finish among di major contenders for di election.
For Kebbi State, Malami, wey previously serve as Nigeria Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, don emerge as di ADC governorship candidate. Im go contest alongside Zagi Musa Mohammed.
Another familiar political figure for di list na Great Ogboru, wey go represent di ADC for Delta State with Afiari Gloria as im running mate. Ogboru don contest for Delta governorship several times across different political platforms. Available election records show say e don remain one of di long-standing opposition contenders for di state governorship position.
For Kaduna, ADC don pick Isa Mohammed Ashiru, wey previously contest di 2023 governorship election for di platform of di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ashiru go contest with Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku.
Other notable names for di ADC list include Senator Halliru Dauda Jika for Bauchi, Herman Iorwase Hembe for Benue, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita for Katsina, Zakari Mohammed for Kwara and former military officer John Sunday Sura for Plateau State.
Di party say di candidates come from different political and professional backgrounds and dem go carry di ADC banner into di 2027 elections.
According to di statement signed by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, di party present di candidates as part of im effort to give Nigerians another political option ahead of di elections.
Di announcement dey come as political parties across Nigeria dey intensify preparations for di 2027 general elections. Di governorship election for states wey dey participate for di off-cycle and scheduled governorship cycle dey form part of di wider electoral contest expected to test di strength of opposition parties and political alliances.
ADC’s 28-State Governorship Line-Up
Di list released by di party includes:
- Abia: Kalu Kalu Agu — Alozie Ogadinma Darlington
- Adamawa: Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu — Aguwa Kevin Iliya
- Akwa Ibom: Akpanudoedehe John James — Nsien Mkpombuk Tommy
- Bauchi: Halliru Dauda Jika — Sama’ila Mohammed Kabir
- Benue: Herman Iorwase Hembe — Abba John Abba
- Borno: Babagana Buhari — Mamman Dauda
- Cross River: Nkoyo Toyo — Okwoche Andrew Adagbor
- Delta: Great Ogboru — Afiari Gloria
- Ebonyi: Ukpai Mba Udeh — Onwe Daniel Ede
- Enugu: Ocho Obodoeze Chukwuma — Eze Arinze Christopher
- Gombe: Bala Bello — Bala Sani Isa
- Jigawa: Sabo Mohammed Nakudu — Musa Ya’u Balarabe
- Kaduna: Isa Mohammed Ashiru — Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku
- Kano: Ibrahim Ali Amin — Shehu Abdulkadir Bari
- Katsina: Ahmad Babba Kaita — Aminu Yar’Adua Ahmed
- Kebbi: Abubakar Malami — Zagi Musa Mohammed
- Kwara: Zakari Mohammed — Olawuyi Julius Olayide
- Lagos: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour — Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere
- Nasarawa: Nuhu Angbazo — Ahmed Yusuf
- Niger: Mohammed Kpautagi — Musa Mamman
- Ogun: Biodun Collins Ogundipe — Muraina Oluwaranti Oluyemi
- Oyo: Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke Adegóke — Wahab Adeniyi
- Plateau: John Sunday Sura — Pwa Jok-Kele Chundung Bitrus
- Rivers: Gabriel Pidomson — Okungba David Amapakaye
- Sokoto: Manir Mohammad Daniya — Isah Bello Ambarura
- Taraba: Abubakar Umar Tutare — Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan
- Yobe: Kassim G. Gaidam — Kori Lawan Mohammed
- Zamfara: Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf — Muhammad Abdulmuddalib Auwal.
ADC Leadership Crisis Still Hanging Over Party
Despite di latest candidate announcement, ADC still dey face legal and organisational challenges connected to internal leadership disputes.
Earlier for 2026, disagreements between rival groups inside di party led to court cases and uncertainty over recognition of some party structures. INEC at one point suspended recognition of competing leadership factions following conflicting communications from di groups.
Di legal battle later produce different court decisions. For July, di Court of Appeal affirmed a judgment restraining INEC from recognising or participating in certain state congresses organised by committees appointed by di David Mark-led leadership of di party.
However, another Federal High Court judgment for July affirmed di leadership of former Senate President David Mark and ordered INEC to recognise di Mark-led national working committee.
Di conflicting legal developments show say di party still dey operate within a complicated political and judicial environment as e prepares for di 2027 elections.
Di ADC has also faced a separate legal challenge over its registration. A Federal High Court had ordered INEC to deregister di party in June, but di Court of Appeal later set aside that deregistration order.
With di release of 28 governorship tickets, di party dey signal say e intends to continue preparations for di 2027 elections despite di legal battles surrounding some aspects of its internal administration.
For Obaland magazine, di development represents another important stage in Nigeria’s emerging 2027 political realignment. Di presence of experienced politicians and former candidates on di ADC platform could make di party’s governorship contests one to watch, but its ability to translate candidate selection into effective nationwide organisation and electoral strength go depend largely on how e manages its internal disputes and builds a united campaign structure.
Sources: Punch Newspapers; TheCable; Vanguard News; Channels Television; Premium Times; Reuters.
African Democratic Congress unveils governorship and deputy governorship candidates across 28 Nigerian states, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Abubakar Malami, Great Ogboru and Isa Ashiru.