The race for the 2027 presidency is gearing up on Monday as voting commenced nationwide for the presidential primary election of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Major political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, have already cast their ballots at the ongoing ADC presidential primary election.
The internal election is being held simultaneously across 8,809 wards in all 774 local government areas.
The party opted for a direct primary approach using the Option A4 voting system—where accredited members queue openly behind their preferred choice—after intense stakeholder consultations failed to produce a consensus candidate over the weekend.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the ADC presidential primary election features a fierce three-way battle among high-profile candidates cleared by the party’s National Working Committee.
The contenders are Atiku Abubakar,Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Reacting after voting, Atiku wrote on X, “I joined other prospective voters of the African Democratic Congress in our party’s presidential primaries in casting my vote at the Ajiya Ward Polling Unit in Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State.
“This is democracy at work. The election taking place simultaneously in 8,809 wards in Nigeria is a major step in our quest to recover our beloved country and set it on the path of prosperity.”
Amaechi voted at Ward 5 in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, alongside party members and supporters.
Beyond the presidential contest, the ADC is also conducting primaries for governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
The exercise, however, comes amid internal disagreements within the party.
Another group on Sunday announced the dissolution of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and declared Dumebi Kachikwu as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Despite the development, the David Mark-led leadership remains the faction recognised on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s official website and has urged members to maintain order and unity during the primary process.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election concluded yesterday with President Bola Tinubu securing 10,999,162 votes, defeating Stanley Osifo to become the party’s official candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The 2027 presidential election is officially scheduled to take place on February 20, 2027, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
