ADC State Chairmen Reject Zoning of 2027 Presidential Ticket

State chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have called on the party’s National Working Committee to abandon plans to zone the 2027 presidential ticket. They urged the party to conduct an open, transparent primary capable of producing a candidate with broad national appeal.

According to an exclusive report from The Punch, the chairmen warned that zoning the ticket could weaken the party’s electoral prospects and undermine its role as a coalition platform for opposition forces seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu.

Kingsley Ogga, Chairman of the ADC Chairmen Forum and Kogi State chairman; Kennedy Odion, the Forum’s Secretary and Edo State chairman; and Adamawa State chairman Arabi Mustapha, emphasized that competence, credibility, and electability should guide the party’s choice, rather than geopolitical considerations.

Their statements come amid increasing debate within the ADC following the entry of several high-profile politicians into the party. Calls have emerged from different factions to zone the presidential ticket to the South.

Since July 2025, when the ADC became the platform for opposition leaders aiming to unseat President Tinubu in 2027, the party—under former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary—has worked to strengthen its structures and expand its national reach.

Notable figures who have joined the ADC with presidential ambitions include former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. More aspirants are expected to declare in the coming weeks.

Ogga described zoning as “self-sabotage” for a party positioning itself as a national alternative. He said, “The process should be open to all qualified Nigerians. Whoever emerges through a free and fair contest should take the ticket. Zoning narrows our ambition to one region and excludes other capable Nigerians. Our goal is to field the best candidate to defeat President Tinubu.”

Odion added that restricting the ticket by region limits the pool of qualified candidates and risks prioritizing sectional interests over national progress. “The ADC is being viewed as a rescue platform for Nigeria. The focus must be on capacity, credibility, and electability,” he said.

Mustapha echoed the call for open primaries, warning that zoning could weaken the party’s national standing. “The contest should be open to all qualified Nigerians. Whoever wins through a transparent and credible process should have the full support of the party,” he said.

The state chairmen collectively urged the ADC leadership to ensure an inclusive primary process, arguing that only such an approach would produce a candidate capable of galvanizing national support against the ruling party.