Photo: ADC Unveils Presidential Candidate On INEC Portal, Atiku Left Out

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has announced the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates’ particulars to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Ireporter Online, the faction disclosed that the candidates’ information had been successfully uploaded to the INEC nomination portal in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the electoral commission’s guidelines for candidate nominations.

The group identified Chris Uba as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election, while Dr. Shamsuddeen Modibbo Barkindo was nominated as his running mate. The faction described the completion of the submission process as a major milestone in its preparations for the forthcoming polls.

Speaking on the development, Gombe stated that the exercise was conducted in full compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s nomination procedures. He added that the faction had also uploaded the details of its National Assembly candidates, demonstrating its readiness to participate fully in the next general elections.

Documents reportedly filed with INEC indicate that Uba, a native of Anambra State, attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as well as other educational institutions in the United Kingdom. His running mate, Barkindo, who is from Adamawa State, studied at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The faction maintained that Barkindo’s nomination reflects its commitment to presenting experienced and credible leadership capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic, security and developmental challenges. It also disclosed that the nomination documents were duly signed by the party’s national chairman and national secretary and accompanied by the mandatory sworn affidavits, known as Form EC9, as required under the Electoral Act.

The submission comes amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership and structures. The internal dispute has resulted in conflicting declarations over the party’s authentic leadership, leaving uncertainty over which faction INEC will eventually recognise for the 2027 elections. As of the time of filing this report, the electoral commission had not publicly confirmed whether it had accepted or recognised the list submitted by the Gombe-led faction.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld an order restraining INEC from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC.

In a split judgment delivered on Monday, the appellate court affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, with Justices Okon Abang and Donatus Okorowo holding that state congresses should be conducted by duly elected state executive committees rather than the party’s national caretaker leadership. However, the presiding justice, Abba Mohammed, dissented, arguing that the matter concerned the internal affairs of a political party and therefore fell outside the jurisdiction of the court.