ADC Chairmen Kick Against Zoning, Demand Open Presidential Primary for 2027
State chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have called on the party’s National Working Committee to abandon any plan to zone the 2027 presidential ticket, urging instead for an open, transparent and credible primary capable of producing a broadly acceptable candidate.
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, the chairmen warned that zoning the presidential ticket would weaken the party’s electoral prospects and undermine its growing profile as a coalition platform for opposition forces seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The Chairman of the ADC Chairmen Forum and Kogi State Chairman, Kingsley Ogga; the Forum’s Secretary and Edo State Chairman, Kennedy Odion; alongside the Adamawa State Chairman, Arabi Mustapha, stressed that competence, credibility and electability—rather than geopolitical considerations—should determine who flies the party’s presidential flag.
Their position comes amid increasing internal debates within the party following the influx of prominent political figures and mounting pressure from various blocs advocating for zoning of the presidential ticket.
“As a stakeholder, my position is simple: the process should be open to everyone. There should be no zoning. Whoever emerges through a free and fair contest should take the ticket,” one of the chairmen stated.
According to them, zoning would amount to self-sabotage by narrowing the party’s options and excluding capable Nigerians from other parts of the country. They argued that the ADC’s primary objective should be to present the strongest possible candidate who can defeat the incumbent president and offer Nigerians a credible alternative.
“Zoning is a way of defeating yourself because it restricts ambition to one section of the country,” a chairman said. “It does not represent competence and could limit development and progress.”
The chairmen further noted that the ADC is increasingly viewed as a potential rescue platform for Nigeria, warning that a wrong decision at this critical stage could squander a rare opportunity for national renewal.
“Zoning sends the wrong signal that our options are already limited. It will do more harm than good and could undermine national unity,” another chairman added.
Collectively, the state chairmen urged the ADC leadership to guarantee an inclusive and transparent presidential primary process, insisting that only such an approach would produce a candidate capable of galvanising nationwide support and mounting a serious challenge to the ruling party in 2027.