2027: ADC mulls open ticket for presidential slot

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is considering leaving its presidential ticket open for all eligible aspirants from the North and South ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing newsmen at the end of the National Caucus meeting of the ADC yesterday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the aspirants had […]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is considering leaving its presidential ticket open for all eligible aspirants from the North and South ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the National Caucus meeting of the ADC yesterday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the aspirants had all agreed to rally behind any eventual winner of the presidential primary to ensure party unity and victory at the poll in 2027.

Recall that the opposition coalition recently adopted the ADC to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 poll. 

Daily Trust reports that the meeting of the National Caucus of the ADC held yesterday was the first since its adoption a few months ago.

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But when our correspondent sought to know whether the commitment means jettisoning zoning, Abdullahi said, “The commitment was not given in the regard of zoning.” 

According to him, the party was not talking about zoning for now, but working to put its structure in good stead. He said the caucus also directed all members to resign their membership of other political parties, but that no timeline was given. 

Abdullahi further disclosed that the ADC National Working Committee (NWC) has been directed to fix dates for next year’s off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. 

He added that the coalition members promoting the new political association, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), have been asked to discontinue their association and focus fully on the ADC.

“The Coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means, we are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association,” he said.

Meanwhile, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai have sought clearance to complete pending elections in their legacy parties, including the August 16 parliamentary by-election and the November 8 Anambra governorship poll before moving fully to the ADC.

Recall that Atiku has already resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but is yet to formally register as an ADC member.

Those at the meeting were  National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi while former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi sent his apologises.