A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has rejected claims that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that Professor Chris Uba remains the duly nominated flagbearer.
The faction made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday, describing reports linking Atiku to the ADC presidential ticket as false and misleading.
According to Gombe, Atiku “is not, and has never been” the party’s presidential candidate, adding that the clarification became necessary to protect the integrity of the ADC and prevent confusion among Nigerians.
Faction Disowns David Mark-Led Group
The Gombe-led leadership also distanced itself from a group allegedly operating under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark, describing it as a self-appointed body with no constitutional or legal authority to act on behalf of the party.
The faction argued that the group lacks recognition within the ADC and does not possess the mandate or approval of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct congresses, primaries or make binding decisions for the party.
According to Gombe, recent attempts by coalition groups to align the ADC with other political interests have been rejected.
“The African Democratic Congress is not in any form of alliance, merger or coalition with any political party. The ADC remains an independent, ideologically driven and self-reliant political party committed to contesting elections on the strength of its own structure, manifesto and membership,” he stated.
The faction maintained that the party had fully complied with its constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s guidelines in producing its presidential candidate.
Gombe said all internal nomination processes had been concluded in accordance with the law, resulting in the emergence of Professor Chris Uba as the ADC’s presidential standard-bearer.
He described Uba as a competent and credible leader with the capacity to provide transformational leadership for Nigeria.
“The African Democratic Congress presents Professor Chris Uba as its duly recognised presidential candidate. We are convinced that he possesses the competence, character, capacity and national appeal required to lead Nigeria at this critical time,” he said.
Atiku Warned Against Using ADC Platform
The faction warned Atiku Abubakar to immediately stop presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate, insisting that the party would not allow its platform to be used for personal political ambitions.
According to Gombe, the ADC was founded on principles of national renewal, inclusive governance and credible leadership, stressing that it would not become a vehicle for political opportunism.
He added that the party was prepared to pursue every available legal and constitutional avenue to protect its identity from what he described as unauthorised appropriation.
The Gombe-led faction also dismissed allegations that there were attempts to prevent the ADC from participating in the 2027 general election, describing such claims as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
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It expressed confidence in INEC and Nigeria’s constitutional and electoral processes, urging members and supporters not to be distracted by narratives capable of creating unnecessary panic.
“The African Democratic Congress will not be reduced to an instrument of chaos. We will not permit any individual or group to exploit our platform to spread misinformation or destabilise the country’s democratic process,” Gombe stated.
He further affirmed that the party is fully prepared for the 2027 elections and will field candidates for the presidency as well as governorship, National Assembly, State Assembly and local government elections across the country.
The faction urged party members, stakeholders, security agencies, INEC and the general public to disregard statements or directives issued by individuals or groups it described as unauthorised, insisting that only its leadership represents the authentic position of the African Democratic Congress.