A splinter group within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), under the leadership of Nafiu Bala, has put forward businessman Prof Chris Uba as its standard-bearer for the 2027 presidential election. This move comes just days after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secured the party’s ticket through a primary election that saw him defeat Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
During a ceremony in Abuja on Sunday, the faction also handed party flags to 29 governorship candidates representing the six geopolitical zones. Bala, who serves as the factional national chairman, explained that the decision to zone the presidential ticket to the southern part of Nigeria was rooted in principles of equity, fairness, inclusiveness, and adherence to federal character.
According to Bala, three aspirants initially purchased nomination forms for the presidential contest: Dr Bashir Sani, Prince Williams Charles, and Prof Chris Uba. However, citing the consensus option permitted under the Electoral Act, the party narrowed the field. After the voluntary withdrawal of the other two candidates, Uba emerged as the sole consensus candidate and was consequently declared the party’s flagbearer.
Bala emphasized that the consensus method aligns with Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which recognizes this approach as a legitimate means for political parties to select or nominate candidates. He noted that the withdrawals were made in the interest of party unity, paving the way for Uba’s unopposed emergence.