The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State has officially selected Mr. Oriji Tobias Nnabuike as its governorship flag bearer for the 2027 general elections. Mr. Bassie Umoke, the Coordinator of Electoral Matters and State Returning Officer, made the announcement after the primary election held at the party’s state office on Old Enugu Road in Abakaliki, the state capital.
According to Mr. Umoke, Nnabuike garnered 6,400 votes in the contest, which took place across all 171 wards in Ebonyi. A total of 6,730 party members were accredited for the exercise, and 6,400 delegates ultimately cast their ballots. The voting process was carried out at the ward level, following guidelines from the party’s national leadership.
The returning officer explained that the results were first compiled at ward-level collation centers before being transferred to constituency centers, then to local government centers, and finally to the state collation center for the official declaration. He noted that this thorough process accounted for the time required to finalize the outcome.
To enhance transparency and credibility, the ADC adopted an electronic membership register for the primaries. Mr. Umoke emphasized that this system eliminated common irregularities seen in conventional party primaries and made all figures verifiable. “We aim to change the narrative and make Nigeria workable. Every registered member automatically becomes a delegate for congresses and primaries, and what you see here is fully verifiable,” he stated.
The Ebonyi State Chairman of ADC, Dr. Jennifer Adibe, praised the peaceful and transparent nature of the primary elections. She confirmed that the party has also produced candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats ahead of the 2027 polls. For positions with multiple aspirants, direct primaries were conducted, while others were settled through consensus.
Dr. Adibe dismissed any concerns about insecurity during the exercise, noting that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), monitored the proceedings across the state. She expressed optimism that the ADC would emerge as a formidable force capable of challenging dominant parties in Ebonyi in the upcoming elections.
The Chairman of the Ebonyi State Primary Election Committee, Dr. Pascale Okafor, commended party members for maintaining order throughout the primaries. He described the exercise as peaceful and in strict compliance with the Electoral Act. Similarly, the Deputy National Auditor of ADC and Secretary of the Electoral Committee in Ebonyi, Princess Nneka Nnebu, applauded the turnout and noted that no major challenges were recorded.